# Agricultural Information Technologies eKutir is a Social Innovation Helping Smallholder Farmers By Social Business Editor | Published 2014-07-16 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ekutir References: [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyfNN8p7xGG8HX5M3wSl_kA) & [ekutirsb](http://www.ekutirsb.com/) Based in Odisha, India, eKutir is a social business that focuses on improving the lives of smallholder farmers through increased prosperity and productivity. While many social enterprises focus on [farming and agriculture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agricultural-technology-platforms) specifically, what makes eKutir specifically interesting is its use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This, in turn, could impact India as a whole. The featured video explains exactly how eKutir works: through equalizing unfair information distribution (on seeds, fertilizer, market info, etc.) through a network of [social entrepreneurs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-impact). "eKutir sets up franchised, local hubs to support small farmers within a 15 km radius," the team writes in a press release. "The hubs are served by eKutir-trained local entrepreneurs who offer tailored agricultural advice, trade information and value chain linkages via the ICT-based tools. eKutir now operates in 4 states across India, serving nearly 2000 villages, close to 50,000 farmers and has created over 60 micro-entrepreneurs for ag-based services." **Contact Information** eKutir [website](http://www.ekutirsb.com/) eKutir on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyfNN8p7xGG8HX5M3wSl_kA) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Increased Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Agriculture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and implement ICT-based tools to provide tailored agricultural advice, trade information, and value chain linkages to smallholder farmers. - **Social Enterprises Focused on Farming and Agriculture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establish local hubs with trained entrepreneurs to equalize information distribution and support small farmers. - **Improving Lives of Smallholder Farmers:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create social businesses that increase prosperity and productivity for smallholder farmers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Agricultural Technology (agtech):** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and deploy technology tools for small farmers, such as ICT-based solutions and value chain linkages. - **Social Entrepreneurship:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establish social enterprises that focus on farming and agriculture to support the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. - **Information and Communication Technology (ICT):** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create and enhance ICT-based tools to provide tailored agricultural advice and trade information to smallholder farmers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Farming Insights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/safaricom.md) - [Satellite Data-Powered Agricultural Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agricultural-transformation.md) - [Diminutive Indian Grocery Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indian-grocery-app.md) - [Retail Crop Yield Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walmart-agritask.md) - [Agricultural Support Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agricultural-support-project.md) - [Field Irrigation Planning Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irrigation-planning.md) - [Crop-Scouting Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cropscouting-robot.md) - [Agriculture-Focused IoT Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microsofts-airband.md) - [Agricultural Living Sensor Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biotechnology-platform.md)