Initiative reaches more than 75,000 farmers across 12 states, combining soil diagnostics, drone-based services and scientific crop advisory to drive sustainable productivity

As India pushes to improve farm productivity while reducing nutrient imbalances and resource inefficiencies, Coromandel International Ltd has launched its ‘Gromor Gram’ model village initiative across 101 villages in 12 states, creating what could become one of the country’s largest private-sector-led agricultural extension programmes.

The initiative spans key agricultural regions across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat, bringing research-backed agronomic support directly to farming communities.

At a time when Indian agriculture is increasingly focused on precision farming, balanced nutrient management and climate resilience, the programme seeks to address a persistent challenge: the disconnect between scientific agricultural research and field-level adoption.

Each Gromor Gram village will function as a demonstration hub where farmers gain access to a suite of services designed to improve crop performance and decision-making. These include soil and leaf testing facilities, customised crop advisory services, demonstration plots showcasing best practices, and agri-drone spraying solutions aimed at improving input-use efficiency and reducing labour constraints.

Industry experts have long argued that while India has made significant advances in agricultural research, translating laboratory findings into practical farm-level interventions remains a major bottleneck. Coromandel’s initiative seeks to bridge this gap by converting complex agronomic recommendations into actionable, locally relevant practices that farmers can adopt with confidence.

The programme is already engaging more than 75,000 farmers, making it a significant grassroots intervention in a sector where productivity gains increasingly depend on precision nutrient management, data-driven advisory services and technology-enabled farming practices.

According to the company, the model villages are intended to encourage balanced fertilisation practices, improve nutrient-use efficiency and help farmers achieve sustainable yield improvements. The initiative also aligns with broader industry efforts to move beyond product-centric approaches toward integrated farm solutions that combine inputs, advisory services and technology.

“These model villages will empower farmers to adopt balanced nutrition practices and achieve sustainable productivity gains,” said Madhab Adhikari, Senior Vice President and Head – Sales and Marketing (Fertilizers and SSP), Coromandel International.

The emphasis on soil and leaf testing is particularly noteworthy as India continues to grapple with nutrient imbalances resulting from excessive use of select fertilisers. Scientific nutrient management is increasingly being viewed as critical for maintaining soil health, improving crop quality and reducing input costs over the long term.

The inclusion of agri-drone services also reflects the growing role of precision agriculture technologies in Indian farming. Drone-enabled spraying can improve application accuracy, reduce chemical wastage and lower operational costs, particularly in labour-constrained regions.

For Coromandel, the programme represents a strategic shift from being solely an input supplier to becoming a broader agricultural solutions provider. By embedding advisory services and technology within farming communities, the company is positioning itself closer to farm-level decision-making while strengthening farmer engagement.

The company plans to expand the Gromor Gram network in phases, potentially creating a scalable model for knowledge-led agricultural development across India’s diverse farming landscapes.

As agriculture faces mounting pressures from climate variability, rising production costs and the need to improve resource efficiency, initiatives such as Gromor Gram underscore a growing recognition that the future of farm productivity may depend as much on information, diagnostics and precision technologies as on traditional agricultural inputs.

With its combination of scientific advisory, digital tools and field-level engagement, the programme reflects a broader transformation underway in Indian agriculture—one that increasingly places knowledge and technology at the centre of sustainable growth.