Kheyti, a Hyderabad-based agri-tech social enterprise, has announced that state governments in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, along with NABARD, are adapting its low-cost protected cultivation model, according to a media statement released on June 24, 2026. The model aims to bring climate resilience to smallholder farmers by providing an affordable greenhouse structure paired with AI-driven advisory.
The Low-Cost Protected Cultivation Model
Kheyti re-engineered the conventional greenhouse into a low-cost protected cultivation structure that costs a fraction of a standard greenhouse and is sized for a small farmer’s plot, according to the statement. The model is paired with AI-powered advisory delivered through field agronomists and a mobile decision-support tool. After proving the model directly with more than 7,000 farmers across eight states, Kheyti has begun working alongside state governments and central institutions to scale it to the millions of smallholder farmers they aim to reach.
Government and Institutional Adoption
The statement noted that on March 7, 2026, the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare wrote to state horticulture mission directors across the country, asking them to consider promoting low-cost protected cultivation for small and marginal farmers. The MIDH advisory cited a technical evaluation by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, which assessed Kheyti’s low-cost shade net design and found it “very much cost effective”, “well designed and safe”, and that it “can be recommended for the farmers”. The institute further stated: “Low cost, small-sized net-house models may be included in the protected cultivation schemes under MIDH.”
The following table summarizes the key adopting entities:
| Entity | Role |
|---|---|
| Government of Andhra Pradesh | Adapting the model |
| Government of Telangana | Adapting the model |
| Government of Uttar Pradesh | Adapting the model |
| Government of Madhya Pradesh | Adapting the model |
| NABARD | Adapting the model |
| MIDH (Union Ministry) | Issued advisory to promote low-cost protected cultivation |
| ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru | Conducted technical evaluation and recommended the model |
Impact and Scalability
The statement emphasized that Kheyti has already proven the model directly with over 7,000 farmers across eight states. With the involvement of state governments and NABARD, the model is expected to reach millions of smallholder farmers. Saumya, Co-founder and Head of Public and Government Partnerships at Kheyti, was quoted in the statement: “India’s state governments and NABARD have shown over the past two years that climate resilience for smallholder farmers is solvable -- when the model is built end-to-end for smallholder economics, and when public institutions choose to put their delivery capacity behind it. Kheyti’s role is to democratize the technology, and provide farmers with AI-driven advisory to ensure their success.”
Implications for Agriculture Supply Chains
The widespread adoption of low-cost protected cultivation among smallholders could enhance the production of high-value horticulture crops, potentially affecting supply dynamics and price stability in Indian agricultural markets. By reducing weather-related risks and increasing yield consistency, the model may contribute to more reliable sourcing for processors and traders. However, the full impact will depend on the pace of implementation and farmer uptake across the adopting states.
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