Sathya Raghu Mokkapati: The "greenhouse-in-a-box" empowering farmers in India

The "greenhouse-in-a-box" empowering farmers in India

For smallholder farmers in India, agriculture has long been an unreliable source of income -- crops that flourish one season can fail the next, thanks to heat, pests and disease. But climate risk is now making the profession nearly impossible. TED Fellow Sathya Raghu Mokkapati is determined to change that with "greenhouse-in-a-box": a small, low-cost, easy-to-build structure aimed at helping farmers weather sizzling summers, increase monthly revenues and grow more food with less water.

Reliable income matters more to smallholder farmers than tools or training, as poverty pushes some to desperate measures, like eating mud when crops fail. Unpredictable weather and climate risks force millions into financial uncertainty and heartbreak. A simple, affordable micro-greenhouse can shield crops from heat, pests, and drought, raising yields up to sevenfold and using 90 percent less water. With financing, seeds, and support, this innovation brings dignity, stability, and hope to those who feed the nation.