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HomePosts Tagged "Chief Operating Officer"
Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Opinions

By Phani Kumar Thota, Chief Operating Officer, Samunnati Financial Intermediation & Services

India’s agriculture-based industry is the backbone of nearly half of the country’s workforce, providing livelihood for millions. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, the demand for food is soaring, placing a significant burden on farmers to increase yields with scarce resources. Traditional farming, an activity with large amounts of generational knowledge, is struggling to keep pace with the intensified demands and threats established by climate change. At the same time, changing weather patterns, rising global temperatures, water scarcity, soil erosion, and other factors are impacting crop yields and agricultural sustainability.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the average annual agricultural growth rate in India has been around 2.8 per cent in the past ten years, which is far from the 4 per cent rate needed to achieve future food demand. Moreover, studies indicate that climate change may reduce crop yields by 10-40 per cent by 2050 if corrective measures aren’t taken. That is true, but so is water scarcity, a significant one. Water scarcity continues to affect over 60 per cent of Indian agriculture, which still relies on unreliable monsoon rainfall. Soil degradation persists, with 30 per cent of India’s agricultural land now regarded as degraded due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers and deforestation. These statistics underscore the urgent need for innovation in agriculture, as relying solely on traditional methods may not be enough to address the food security challenges posed by India’s rapidly growing population.

Technology, particularly AI in agriculture, will be an important platform to build resilience. It will work discreetly, providing insights and data-driven information that help farmers make better decisions. From crop health monitoring to accurate water management, AI applications help farmers enhance productivity and conserve resources. Thus, by integrating digital tools with age-old farming practices, Indian agriculture is being revolutionised discreetly and deeply. This leap toward smarter, tech-enabled agriculture sets a pathway toward not only sustainability but also economic empowerment for India’s gigantic agricultural community.

Perhaps the most striking growth has been seen in Indian agritech companies over the past few years as they have been able to focus on and resolve some of the most challenging issues facing the agricultural sector. Studies compiled for assessing the agritech market of India have shown that its valuation will double by 2025. This rapid growth speaks to the immense potential this sector carries towards transforming farming into much more effective and sustainable agricultural systems. Agritech companies employ several cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain technology, to create exceptional enhancements in efforts at crop monitoring, weather forecasting, supply chain management, and farmers’ access to finances.

Capacity Building

Agritech companies in India have paved the way for a revolutionary change in the agriculture sector by offering farmers data-driven insights that are better optimised than traditional methods. While decisions about planting, irrigation, and pest control were previously made based on general traditions, with farmers relying on older generations for major decisions, they now entail complex considerations involving real-time, data-driven solutions. Agritech firms bridge this gap by using AI and machine learning to analyse huge datasets on soil health, crop patterns, and weather conditions.

According to a joint report by NASSCOM and McKinsey, AI-based solutions in agriculture are said to unlock a $65 billion potential in the Indian market by improving crop monitoring, soil analysis, and pest management. In these ways, agritech companies help farmers optimise resource utilisation, reduce unnecessary losses, and increase productivity—an immediate need, particularly in climate-sensitive regions like India.

To read more click : https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Phani Kumar Thota, Chief Operating Officer,

Agribusiness, Agro chems – Fertilizers, India

Rallis India’s extensive distribution network and farmer connect initiatives ensure widespread accessibility and adoption of such solutions across Punjab and Haryana.

Rallis India Limited, a Tata enterprise and a leading player in the Indian agri-inputs industry is actively raising awareness about crop care in the early stages of paddy cultivation through its farmers’ campaign, “Dhaan ka Powerplay,” across Haryana and Punjab.

Paddy crops significantly contribute to the farmers’ income in these markets. As an organization committed to providing farmers with advanced Agri solutions and to sensitize them about the importance of paddy crop health and nourishment in its early stage, Rallis India initiated the ‘Dhaan ka Powerplay’ campaign. This campaign facilitates direct farmer engagement through field visits, demos, one-on-one farmer meetings across Punjab and Haryana.

“Rallis India’s comprehensive crop care solutions are designed to support the farmers of Punjab and Haryana in maximizing their paddy yields. Through this campaign, we aim to drive deeper awareness and adoption of our innovative granular products such as Zaafu, Ralligold GR, Zygant, and Nayazinc that deliver tangible benefits in the crucial initial stage of the crop cycle. It has been Rallis India’s constant endeavor to ensure that farmers are well-informed about the benefits of its products which are tailored to address the specific needs of the region’s paddy varieties,” said, S Nagarajan, Chief Operating Officer, Rallis India Limited.

The objective of ‘Dhaan ka Powerplay’ is to educate farmers on the advantages of using Zaafu, Ralligold GR, Zygant, and Nayazinc, together which are highly suitable for application up to 30 days from the time of transplanting. These products play a pivotal role in enhancing soil health and plant vigor during the crucial initial growth phase of paddy cultivation. Rallis India’s extensive distribution network and farmer connect initiatives ensure widespread accessibility and adoption of such solutions across Punjab and Haryana.

Rallis India's extensive distribution network and farmer

Company News, India, Sugar industry

Company aims to clock a revenue of Rs 120 crores per annum in the segment.

Bengaluru based Sunpure, South India’s largest edible oil brand, today announced its foray into a new product category – packaged jaggery. Sunpure Jaggery Powder and Sunpure Jaggery Block (available in 500g packs) have been launched in Bengaluru and Mumbai, as a part of the company’s vision to become India’s favourite food brand that advocates chemical & preservative-free healthy living. The company will introduce the new products to all its existing markets across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa and Tamil Nadu over the next one month.

MK Agrotech, the parent company of Sunpure, is a Karnataka-based organisation known for bringing together the best of technology and tradition in the food space. The company has ambitious plans to become a Pan-India FMCG brand that empowers Indian consumers to embrace healthy living. Given that Indian consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and looking to replace refined, white sugar in their diets with a healthier alternative, the company decided to venture into the new segment with Sunpure Jaggery.

The packaged jaggery market in India touched Rs 55.6 billion in 2022, as per market reports. By 2028, it is expected to reach Rs 122.1 billion, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1 per cent during the five-year period. Sunpure aims to clock a revenue of Rs 120 crores per annum in the segment. In Mumbai, the products have been launched under Riso Jaggery powder and Riso Jaggery block. In February this year, Sunpure had acquired Riso, a premium edible oil brand in Maharashtra to strengthen its position in the Western market.

Commenting on the product launch, Sridhar Vaidyanathan, Chief Operating Officer, MK Agrotech, said, “India is one of the leading exporters of jaggery in the world and the domestic market for packaged jaggery is ripe for disruption. With mounting health concerns due to growing incidence of diabetes, heart diseases and obesity-related issues, more and more Indian consumers today are replacing white sugar with jaggery, an unrefined natural sweetener made from sugarcane juice. What’s more, jaggery also offers numerous nutritional benefits, making it a healthy addition to the household pantry staples.”

Company aims to clock a revenue of

Acquaculture, Company News, India, Live Stock, Start ups

The expansion fortifies Aquaconnect’s presence across six major aquaculture production states in India.

 Aquaconnect, a full-stack aquaculture platform with embedded fintech that uses Satellite remote sensing and Artificial Intelligence to enable market linkage for stakeholders in the fish and shrimp farming industry, today announced its strategic expansion into West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh as part of strengthening its domestic presence. Aquaconnect also expanded its AquaPartner network by 4X in the last 15 months.

AquaPartners are rural entrepreneurs who provide last-mile assistance to the farmers such as farm advisory, access to feed and other farm inputs in the farm vicinity. One Aquapartner can assist around 100 aqua farmers.

Aquaconnect’s foray into two new markets – West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, fortifies its presence across six major aquaculture production states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Gujarat. This move is in line with Aquaconnect’s goal of optimizing its service offerings to enable market access for farmers to purchase innovative farm input brands and growing stronger in the pre-harvest aquaculture value chain by tripling its AquaPartners network by the end of this year. Through this expansion, Aquaconnect aims to amplify its impact across India with a strong ground network. In West Bengal, Aquaconnect’s sphere now extends to nine districts and spans eight districts across Uttar Pradesh.

“West Bengal is the second-largest fish-producing state, contributing approximately 14 per cent to India’s total production and Uttar Pradesh follows closely as the third largest with a 7 per cent contribution. Despite India being a leading seafood exporter, the domestic market is ripe for disruption. Expanding into these states is a strategic move to address this untapped potential. It aligns with our vision of establishing the largest aquaculture platform through our robust phygital distribution network. Combining satellite remote sensing technologies with Artificial Intelligence and amplifying our AquaPartners network, we are committed to bring transparency in the aquaculture value chain and enabling market linkage between stakeholders. By pioneering this transformative approach in these states, we are making a significant stride towards creating a more interconnected and streamlined ecosystem. We aim to promote sustainability and catalyse progress, gradually contributing to the broader growth of aquaculture in India,” said Karthivelan Selvaraj, Chief Operating Officer, Aquaconnect.

The expansion fortifies Aquaconnect’s presence across six

Company News, India, Oilseeds, People

Sridhar will be responsible for the Mysore-based company’s top-line and bottom-line growth, with a sharp focus on new product launches and expansion to new markets.

Bengaluru based MK Agrotech, parent company of South India’s largest edible oil brand, Sunpure, today announced the appointment of Sridhar Vaidyanathan as the Chief Operating Officer. Sridhar will be responsible for MK Agrotech’s top-line and bottom-line growth, with a sharp focus on new product launches and expansion to new markets.

Having worked for close to three decades in the FMCG industry, Sridhar brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Prior to joining MK Agrotech, he was the National Sales Manager at Britannia Industries Limited, and earlier, the Unit Manager with PepsiCo, with a proven track record of driving growth.

Mannan Khan, Director, MK Agrotech, said, “We are pleased to welcome Sridhar Vaidyanathan as the COO of MK Agrotech. Under his visionary leadership and business acumen, the company is well poised to embark on its next phase of growth. We have an exciting roadmap ahead and with Sridhar joining us, I believe, his rich experience will help us accelerate our journey to becoming a pan-India food brand.”

Sridhar Vaidyanathan, COO, MK Agrotech, said, “In a competitive market like ours, which has in recent years witnessed greater and renewed emphasis on health, it is remarkable to see a company consistently deliver on the promise of quality and health for over three decades now. I’m excited to be a part of the MK Agrotech family, and look forward to the opportunity to further build India’s most trusted and healthy food brand. While the company is at the cusp of a major transformational leap, I am glad to lead this change while keeping the focus firmly on organisational values and culture.

Sunpure has the distinction of being India’s first chemical-free processed and physically refined oil with an improved patented technology. Currently, the brand is present in key markets across India, namely, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala.

Sridhar will be responsible for the Mysore-based