The Journey of Doodh: Building Kerala’s First Digital Platform for Dairy Farmers | Part 1

A Journey Rooted in Gratitude

It has been around two years since we began building something close to our hearts, and we feel it’s time to share the journey. The story is a bit lengthy, so we’ve decided to break it into parts for easier reading. But before we dive into the details, we want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who played a part in shaping this product. Without your support, Doodh wouldn’t be where it is today.

The Dairy Legacy of Kerala

Kerala has always been famous for its strong agricultural background. In the past, almost every household in the state kept one or two cows, providing the essential daily milk for the family. Homemade dairy products like curd, butter, and ghee were also part of the daily routine.

Dairy farming remains a vital part of Kerala’s rural economy, contributing significantly to the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. Across India, the dairy sector supports over 70 million households and accounts for 4.2% of the national GDP. In Kerala alone, about 2.5 million liters of milk are produced every day, contributing to the state’s nutritional and economic fabric. Cows are more than livestock here — they’re part of the family. Farmers call their cows by affectionate nicknames and treat them with care, often adorning them with bells and rosaries.

The Birth of an Idea

In January 2023, a conversation sparked an idea. We were already familiar with the struggles farmers faced in Wayanad, especially when it came to dairy. As agriculture elsewhere faltered, dairy farming became a lifeline. We had heard stories of how, during tough times, it was the cows that kept the farmers going, even as suicides haunted the agricultural community.

During our visits, we observed the deep connection farmers had with their cattle. This gave us the motivation to think of ways to help them. After talking with several farmers, we identified some of the main challenges they faced in the dairy industry:

1. Communication Gaps: Farmers were unaware of many government schemes and cooperative programs.
2. Lack of Proper Documentation: While societies sent SMS or gave paper slips for milk sold, these were hard to track and often got lost.
3. No Clarity on Transactions: There was no system to inform farmers about bank transfers, feed purchases, or other deductions.
4. Manual Monthly Bills: Farmers still used conventional paper bills for monthly settlements.

The Vision of Doodh

We envisioned building a digital platform that could improve communication between farmers and cooperative societies, bringing transparency and accountability to the system. Our goal was simple: help farmers gain more knowledge and control over their dairy-related activities.

After speaking with several society secretaries in Wayanad, we realized they, too, wanted better communication tools. Currently, they used software like OpenLypsa and Ksheera, but these were only for internal purposes, and no platform existed for farmers themselves.

Challenges of Digitizing the Dairy Sector

Introducing a digital product to the dairy industry came with its own set of challenges:

• Low Digital Literacy: Most farmers lacked basic digital knowledge.
• Older Farmers: The majority of farmers were over 50, with very few younger ones in the mix.
• Simple Phones: Many farmers used basic mobile phones, limiting access to advanced features.
• Adoption Resistance: There was uncertainty about whether farmers would be willing to adopt a digital system.

We weren’t fully confident we could solve these problems, but then came a comment from the president of a society: “Don’t worry, we know how to use WhatsApp, and you’d be surprised by our skills. Just build it — we will adopt it.” His words gave us the encouragement we needed to move forward.

Building the MVP: The First Step

We spoke with many farmers to understand the core features they needed in a product. With this input, we built a basic MVP (Minimum Viable Product). It was a simple, static model — no backend connection, just a showcase. However, convincing societies to try it wasn’t easy. Many rejected it outright, saying the current system worked fine. Some even pointed out that government permission would be required to implement such a solution. Even though they were interested initially, after building, none of them showed interest.

After about a month of waiting, we finally found our first supporter: Wayanad Milk Bathery. Secretary Vijayan Sir showed interest, gave us valuable suggestions, and helped us refine the product. This partnership resulted in Wayanad Milk Bathery becoming the first society in Kerala to have its own Android app for farmers.

Moving Forward: The First Version and Early Users

With the feedback and support from Wayanad Milk Bathery, we built the first complete version of Doodh. It was designed specifically for farmers, keeping their needs and challenges in mind. This version was more than just a tool — it was the beginning of a digital society for Kerala’s dairy farmers.

Stay tuned for the next part, where we’ll share more about the challenges we faced and the way build the first version of Doodh

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