🌾 FarmAssist - Smart Farming Companion

Simple, Intelligent Agricultural Assistant for Farmers

FarmAssist is a user-friendly web platform designed specifically for farmers to manage their crops effectively. Get week-by-week guidance, AI-powered solutions for farming issues, and access to agricultural knowledge - all in one simple interface.

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🌟 Why FarmAssist?

Traditional farming relies on experience and trial-and-error. FarmAssist brings modern technology to farmers through:

• Simple Interface: Easy to use, designed with farmers in mind
• Week-by-Week Guidance: Clear action plans from sowing to harvest
• AI Solutions: Get location-specific advice for crop issues
• Government-Approved Resources: Access verified fertilizers and pesticides information

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✨ Key Features for Farmers

1. 🌱 Crop Planning

   • Select your crop, state, and season
   • Enter sowing date and land area
   • Get personalized timeline instantly

2. 📅 Weekly Timeline

   • See what to do each week
   • Mark tasks as complete
   • Add your own notes and observations
   • Get product recommendations

3. 🚨 Report Issues

   • Report problems (pests, weather, diseases)
   • Get expert-defined solutions
   • Access AI-powered recommendations based on your location
   • Regenerate solutions for different approaches

4. 🤖 AI-Powered Help

   • Location-aware advice
   • Considers local climate and soil
   • Works even without internet (fallback solutions)
   • Available in simple language

5. 📚 Knowledge Base

   • Government-approved fertilizers
   • Pesticides information
   • Product prices and vendors
   • Search easily

6. 📊 Track Progress

   • View all your crops in one place
   • Monitor week-by-week progress
   • Manage multiple crops

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🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend: React.js, Vite, CSS3
Backend: Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB
AI: Hugging Face Inference API (Free)
Security: JWT Authentication, bcrypt

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📋 Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14+) - Download
• MongoDB - Local or MongoDB Atlas (free)
• Git (optional)

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🚀 Installation & Setup

1. Clone or Download the Project

git clone https://github.com/itsgowtham14/farm-assist.git
cd farm-assist

2. Install Dependencies

# Frontend
npm install

# Backend
cd server
npm install
cd ..

3. Set Up MongoDB

• Install MongoDB or create free account on MongoDB Atlas
• Start MongoDB service (if local)

4. Configure Environment

Create server/.env file:

MONGO_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/farmassist
JWT_SECRET=your_secret_key_change_this
HUGGINGFACE_API_KEY=your_key_here_optional
PORT=5000

Note: Hugging Face API key is optional - the system works with fallback solutions!

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🏃 Running the Application

Terminal 1 - Backend:

cd server/src
nodemon server.js

Terminal 2 - Frontend:

npm run dev

Open browser: http://localhost:5173

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🌐 Deployment to Vercel

Prerequisites for Deployment

• Vercel account (free) - Sign up
• MongoDB Atlas account - Create free cluster
• GitHub account with your repository

Step 1: Deploy Backend

1. Go to Vercel Dashboard
2. Click "Add New" → "Project"
3. Import your GitHub repository
4. Set Root Directory to server
5. Add Environment Variables:

   MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_atlas_connection_string
   JWT_SECRET=your_strong_random_secret
   HUGGINGFACE_API_KEY=your_key_optional
   NODE_ENV=production
   FRONTEND_URL=https://your-frontend-app.vercel.app
   

6. Click "Deploy"
7. Copy your backend URL (e.g., https://farm-assist-api.vercel.app)

Step 2: Deploy Frontend

1. Update .env file with backend URL:

   VITE_API_URL=https://your-backend-app.vercel.app/api
   

2. Commit and push to GitHub
3. Go to Vercel Dashboard
4. Click "Add New" → "Project"
5. Import the same repository
6. Set Root Directory to . (root)
7. Add Environment Variable:

   VITE_API_URL=https://your-backend-app.vercel.app/api
   

8. Click "Deploy"

Step 3: Update Backend CORS

After frontend is deployed, update backend environment variable:

FRONTEND_URL=https://your-actual-frontend-url.vercel.app

Important Notes:

• Backend and frontend are deployed as separate projects
• MongoDB Atlas IP whitelist: Add 0.0.0.0/0 for Vercel access
• Keep .env files safe - never commit them to GitHub

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🎯 How to Use

For Farmers:

1. Register/Login - Create your account
2. Select Crop - Choose state, season, crop, and sowing date
3. View Timeline - See week-by-week tasks
4. Report Issues - Get help when problems occur
5. Track Progress - Mark weeks complete, add notes

For Agricultural Experts/Administrators:

The system includes an admin panel for agricultural experts to:

• Add crops, states, and timeline tasks
• Define common farming issues and solutions
• Manage fertilizer/pesticide database
• Provide week-specific guidance

Admin Access: admin@outlook.in / admin123

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🔐 Session Management

• Automatic logout after 10 minutes of inactivity
• Secure JWT-based authentication
• Separate sessions for farmers and administrators

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📞 Contact & Support

For help, feedback, or suggestions:

📧 Email: 231fa04094@vignan.ac.in

We can help with:

• Login/password issues
• Feature requests
• Bug reports
• Suggestions for improvement

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👥 Authors

Developed by:
[Your Name]
Roll Number: 231FA04094
Vignan University

Project Guide: [Professor Name]

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🙏 Acknowledgments

• Hugging Face - Free AI inference API
• MongoDB - Database solution
• React & Vite - Modern web development
• Indian Farmers - For inspiration

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📄 License

Developed as part of academic curriculum at Vignan University.

• ✅ Free for educational use
• ⚠️ Contact authors for commercial use
• ✅ Modifications allowed with attribution

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🐛 Future Enhancements

• Multi-language support (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil)
• Mobile app version
• Weather integration
• SMS notifications
• Offline mode
• Community forum

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Happy Farming! 🌾🚜

Built with ❤️ for Indian Farmers