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Agribusiness, Finance, India, Interaction

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Sanjiv Phansalkar, Founder, Vikas Anvesh Foundation a research organisation supported by Tata Trust touches on the key points that can expand the Famer Producer Organisations’ network across the country.

What are the current needs of the FPOs?

Many FPOs lack the necessary funds to operate. Companies that sell agricultural inputs, especially seeds and pesticides, offer great profits and lenient trade terms, prompting everyone to become an input supplier. While this may work in the near term, it is far from a sustainable plan.If FPOs can find a way to boost the economic productivity of their members’ resources, they will not only help them but also ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability. With the rapid expansion of road connectivity almost everywhere and the near universal access to digital public infrastructure, the inflated claims about abnormally high profits produced by merchants have mostly faded from the perspectives of inputs and outputs.

Working on aggregation alone while sticking with the same suppliers or customers can only lead to small price reductions on inputs or increases in members’ income from outputs. Consequently, the only way to make a genuine and long-term impact on the welfare of members is to boost resource production. This is what the members truly need. The challenge lies in the FPO’s ability to anticipate these needs, optimise its resource utilisation, and cultivate a diverse range of business relationships with its members that not only ease their transition but also enable the FPO to generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations.

How Board engagement in FPOs can be improved to get it more aligned?

When considering the long-term viability of an institution, board involvement in FPO is likely to yield positive results. It is commonly acknowledged that the Board plays a crucial role in strengthening member loyalty and coherence, but unfortunately, FPO administrators sometimes assume that this responsibility belongs solely to the Board members. They have persisted through the years of trading goods and services in the neighbourhood markets because they are individual members of the farming community. It is necessary to take advantage of their social network, as well as their knowledge and insights.

The key is to approach them in a way that isn’t condescending, but rather as a partner in exploring and engaging with the marketplace and making business decisions. In addition to giving the Board and, by extension, the FPO members a greater stake in the company’s success, this will increase the managers’ access to market data. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) clarify the who, what, when, and how of an ongoing organisation’s business procedures. They provide some stability and aid the company as it climbs the learning curve to greater efficiency. A solid grasp of the business is necessary for process setup. This could be time-consuming for a newly formed FPO.

How can the entire financial system working in the FPO cycle can be refurbished to support its smooth functioning? 

There has to be a fightback against the government’s strategy, which is to get FPOs to take huge fixed assets through Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFRTI) or similar programmes. But it has good reasons behind it. Working capital is essential for every commodity firm. This necessity is drastically increased for commodities with a seasonal production schedule. Therefore, operating capital must be prioritised while using the few resources available with the FPO. Second, depreciation, interest payments, fixed charges (for power connection), security expenditures, etc. all rise in tandem with fixed investments. The company is more vulnerable to higher operational leverage as a result of these increased fixed expenses. To remain viable, it is best to avoid increasing operational leverage, since most commodity markets are hazardous and margins are small. 

The FPO should avoid investing in fixed assets and instead focus on doing processing and similar tasks on an operating lease or as-needed basis.

What are the ways forward for FPOs to achieve their set goals?

Until it has enough experience, a strong member base that can guarantee a steady volume of business, and the financial stability to invest in expanding its distribution network and brand, the FPO must withstand pressure and ambition to enter the small consumer pack market and completely forgo building its own brand for a number of years. First and foremost, the FPO needs to concentrate on being in the market every day. Just this will make it possible for other market participants to notice it and take it seriously. Being in the market just occasionally is a surefire way to be taken advantage of by other competitors.

The FPO must have some control over when members schedule production and harvest their produce if they want to be present at the market every day. It is best to carefully evaluate and interact with the market in a graded approach because these factors are interrelated and will be perceived to have financial ramifications for both the FPO and the members. It is a good idea to involve the Board in decisions related to this. Above, an effort has been made to identify several facets of the FPO’s operations and offer a particular strategy and set of actions that ought to be implemented right now.

By Nitin Konde

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Sanjiv

Agrotech, India, Live Stock, Opinions

 By Ramanuj Panda, Founder, GoCarin

Innovation in technology and the demand for more sustainable methods are driving a major revolution in India’s animal husbandry industry. Current developments and technologies, such as blockchain, automation, and precision livestock farming, are revolutionising the animal husbandry sector and present a wealth of opportunities for agribusiness executives, legislators, and academic researchers. With an emphasis on business-to-business applications, this article examines the latest developments in technology and trends influencing animal husbandry in India.

In India, animal husbandry plays a pivotal role in agricultural growth and the national economy. As of 2023, this sector contributes around 4.11 per cent to the GDP and employs a significant portion of the rural population. However, with the rise of global competition, environmental challenges, and growing consumer demands for quality, there is an increasing need to modernise animal husbandry practices. Over the last decade, India has seen a surge in technological innovation across various sectors, including agriculture and animal husbandry. These innovations promise to create a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable future for the animal husbandry industry.

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF)

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is revolutionising the way animal husbandry is conducted by integrating cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics. In India, the adoption of PLF is still in its infancy, but it is gaining traction due to the immense potential for increasing productivity and efficiency.

AI algorithms and IoT devices are now being used to monitor animals’ health in real-time. Sensors placed on livestock can track vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels. This data is processed using machine learning algorithms, allowing for early detection of diseases and optimisation of feeding practices. For example, in dairy farming, IoT devices can track the milking process and monitor milk yield, while AI systems predict lactation patterns, improving the overall efficiency of milk production.

Data analytics further enable farmers to optimise animal husbandry practices by providing insights into breeding, feeding, and health management. Decision support systems are being developed to help farmers make data-driven decisions that minimise risks and maximise productivity. Additionally, remote monitoring tools allow farmers to oversee animal health and productivity from afar, providing timely interventions when needed.

Genomic Technologies

Genomic technologies are playing a critical role in improving livestock breeds and their productivity. These technologies focus on enhancing the genetic potential of animals to produce healthier, more productive breeds.

Genomic selection involves evaluating the genetic makeup of animals to identify the most desirable traits, such as disease resistance, higher milk production, and better growth rates. This approach is being widely used in breeding programmes to create high-yielding cattle breeds. In India, both the dairy and meat industries are leveraging genomic selection to improve livestock quality and productivity.

Advanced reproductive technologies like In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer are also gaining prominence in India. These techniques allow for the selection of superior genetic traits, thereby improving the overall quality of livestock. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission, launched by the Indian government, has been instrumental in promoting artificial insemination, IVF, and embryo transfer in cattle, leading to improved milk production and herd quality. Additionally, emerging gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR, although still in their early stages, hold great promise for revolutionising animal husbandry by improving disease resistance and productivity.

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

 By Ramanuj Panda, Founder, GoCarinInnovation in technology

Agribusiness, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Interaction, Supply Chain

Rohit Nagdewani, Founder, Fresh From Farm in an exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum reveals F3’s future business strategies and expansion plan in six cities surrounding Delhi NCR region.

What is the current market size of fruit in India?

India ranks as the second-largest producer of fruits globally, just behind China, and is a leading producer of bananas, papayas, and mangoes. In 2023, India’s fruit production was estimated at 99.07 million tonnes, contributing significantly to the global annual production of 883 million tonnes.

The fruit market in India is substantial, with an estimated value of approximately $60 billion as of 2023. This market is experiencing robust growth, fuelled by increasing health awareness among consumers and rising disposable incomes. These trends are well-documented in reports from market research firms and industry publications, highlighting India’s critical role in the global fruit production landscape and its burgeoning domestic market.

How the technological innovations are driving the growth of this market?

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Good Handling Practices (GHP) play a pivotal role in driving growth in the agricultural market, as highlighted in numerous industry guidelines and reports. These standards are essential for ensuring food safety, maintaining product quality, and promoting sustainability, particularly in the fruit market.

In addition to these practices, investments in storage and logistics infrastructure are critical for preserving product freshness, minimising waste, and enhancing market efficiency. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) further accelerates market growth by enabling precise resource management, accurate crop yield prediction, and early detection of disease outbreaks. These technologies optimise agricultural practices and support the industry’s sustainability goal. Also, improve production efficiency, reduce waste, enhance traceability, and extend the shelf life of fruits, contributing to the market’s continued expansion.

Why it is important to have a smooth supply chain in this business and how your company is able to maintain a healthy supply chain?

A seamless and efficient supply chain is crucial in the fruit industry, particularly because of the perishable nature of the products. Even a minor delay in the logistics process can lead to spoilage and significant financial losses. To mitigate this risk, we at Fresh From Farm have implemented a comprehensive strategy to maintain a robust and responsive supply chain through Integrating the advanced logistics software and direct fruit sourcing from farmers. Let’s discuss how it works: –

Integration of Advanced Logistics Software

We utilise cutting-edge logistics software that optimizes delivery routes and schedules, ensuring that transit times are minimized. This software takes into account real-time traffic conditions, weather patterns, and road networks, allowing for dynamic adjustments to transportation plans. By doing so, we reduce the overall time that fruits spend in transit, preserving their freshness and quality upon arrival.

Direct Sourcing from Farmers

One of our key strategies is direct sourcing from farmers, bypassing intermediaries and reducing the complexity of the supply chain. Traditionally, fruits used to pass through several middlemen, warehouses, and transportation hubs before reaching retailers in distant markets. Each transfer introduces a higher risk of damage and spoilage, and the longer the fruit remains in the supply chain, the greater the loss of freshness.

By working directly with farmers, we significantly reduce the number of exchanges that fruits go through. This shortened supply chain minimizes handling problems, prevents unnecessary delays, and ensures that fruits reach the market more quickly and in better condition. For example, mangoes sourced directly from southern Indian farms can travel thousands of kilometres with fewer handling stages, ensuring they arrive at retail destinations fresher and less susceptible to bruising or spoilage. This direct-to-market approach not only enhances the quality of produce reaching consumers but also allows farmers to receive better prices for their crops by cutting out intermediaries.

What are the major challenges in this business and what is the way forward?

The fruits sector in India faces several significant challenges that hold back the overall growth of agricultural development. One of the most critical issues is the high level of post-harvest losses and wastage, primarily due to inadequate handling, poor storage facilities, and inefficient supply chains. Perishable goods such as fruits are particularly vulnerable to spoilage if not handled or transported properly. These losses result in a substantial reduction in the income of farmers and contribute to food insecurity across the country.

India’s transportation infrastructure for agricultural goods remains a major challenge. Inadequate cold chain facilities, poor road networks in rural areas, and delays in transit can lead to significant quality degradation of fresh produce.

Fruits often have specific climate requirements for optimal growth, including precise temperature ranges, rainfall patterns, and seasonal timing. Changes in these factors—such as unseasonal rains, prolonged droughts, or extreme heat waves—can throw off the natural growth cycle of fruit crops.

 Reducing fruit wastage during transportation requires strong government intervention through both technical and financial support. This can include investing in cold chain infrastructure, modernised transportation facilities, and advanced logistics systems. Additionally, financial assistance for farmers and transporters can help adopt these technologies, ensuring fresher produce reaches markets with minimal spoilage.

What are your expansion plans and how you are planning to execute them?

In the coming months, we aim to significantly expand our presence in the Delhi NCR region. Currently, we are making 450 to 500 deliveries per day, and our goal is to increase this to 1,500 to 2,000 deliveries daily within Delhi NCR alone. Following this expansion, we plan to extend our operations to nearby cities such as Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar.

What are your expectations from the current government?

To enhance India’s fruit market potential, the government needs to focus on improving quality and safety practices in production and packaging. Key initiatives include:

Research and Development: Encouraging the use of tissue culture to produce high-quality, pathogen-free plants and developing fruit varieties with extended shelf life tailored for international markets.

Addressing the relatively low fruit productivity in India by implementing High-Density Plantation (HDP) techniques and conducting scientific assessments of nutrient and irrigation needs.

Post-Harvest Infrastructure: Expanding cold storage facilities, introducing advanced sorting, grading, and treatment processes, and encouraging investment in specialized transport and food inspection infrastructure.

Application of Digital Tools: Supporting the adoption of digital tools and IoT for precision agriculture to maximize yields and improve resource management.

International Trade: Advocating for the removal of trade barriers in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations to integrate India into the global fruit trade value chain.

By Nitin Konde

Rohit Nagdewani, Founder, Fresh From Farm in

Agribusiness, Company News, E-commerce, Finance, Funding, India, Start ups

The funds will be utilised for team expansion, tech enhancement, and to introduce new product lines.

Fresh From Farm, a B2B2C platform for consolidating fresh fruit demand, has successfully raised USD 2 million in a Pre-Series A round with participation from Inflection Point Ventures. Spearheading this investment is Ashish Kacholia, a seasoned investor in the public markets. Fresh From Farm takes charge of retailers’ operations, overseeing procurement, handling, sorting, and distribution, enabling them to focus solely on driving sales.

The allocated funds will be utilised for team expansion, tech enhancement, and to introduce new product lines. This collectively aligns with Fresh From Farm’s growth strategy, positioning them for continued success and expansion in the marketplace.

Fresh From Farm is a leading online platform revolutionising the way fresh produce is sourced and delivered. With a commitment to quality and convenience, Fresh From Farm (F3) uses a proprietary tech interface to predict and create a demand-supply equilibrium to minimise wastage of fresh produce. F3, with its unique business model, converts fruit vendors into mini- franchises and sources, grades and handles fruit for them allowing them to focus on only sales. Rohit Nagdewani the founder of Fresh From Farm, has the experience of founding 2 other ventures in the past.

Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner, Inflection Point Ventures, says, “The concept of buying fresh fruits sounds fresh and healthy, but the process, however, is not. Behind every purchase lies a chain of individuals—farmers, labourers, and retailers—working tirelessly to bring these products to market. F3 steps in as a transformative force, streamlining this process with its tech-enabled platform. By offering transparency and efficiency, F3 empowers retailers to sell quality produce at fair prices, bridging the gap between affordability and profitability. Moreover, F3 champions sustainability by reducing wastage—a testament to its commitment to a healthier, more equitable future.”

Ashish Kacholia, Founder, Lucky Investments says, “The F3 team is solving a large problem for fresh fruits retailers by handling their sourcing logistics and helping their quality of life. Consolidation of demand in an otherwise fragmented and unorganized market is the key driver of the business. Rohit and his team’s deep expertise on the subject matter and their focus on unit economics allowed us to build conviction for the investment.”

Fresh From Farm operates at an impressive scale, with an annual recurring revenue of Rs 40 crores. Supporting this revenue stream is a dedicated team of 50 professionals, ensuring efficient operations and customer satisfaction. Anchored by a state-of-the-art facility spanning 20,000 square feet in New Delhi, the company leverages cutting-edge technology to uphold quality standards and meet market demand effectively. This robust infrastructure positions Fresh From Farm as a key player in the industry, poised for continued growth and success. Fresh From Farm has been able to deliver a partial exit to its early investors with more than 400 per cent returns.

Rohit Nagdewani, Founder, Fresh From Farm, says, “Our vision of becoming India’s largest Fresh Fruits company aligns with our efforts to expand aggressively in New Delhi/ NCR. While currently delivering at over 300+ locations every day, our key focus at wastage reduction and efficient demand consolidation have allowed for our retailer partners to earn an average of 29% more than working through traditional channels. On the growth front, we are aiming to touch Rs 100 crore ARR by the end of this calendar year.”

The funds will be utilised for team

Agrotech, India, Opinions, Sustainable Energy

  By Tanya Singhal, Founder, Mynzo Carbon

India’s renewable energy sector is undergoing a transformative shift, fuelled by a plethora of factors that promise a sustainable and energy-secure future. India’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity, coupled with supportive government policies and technological advancements, is propelling this paradigm shift. Let’s delve into the status, emerging trends, government support, challenges, and the way forward in India’s renewable energy landscape.

India’s renewable energy sector has witnessed exponential growth, with a combined non-fossil fuel capacity of 180 GW, led by 75 GW of solar and 45 GW of wind energy. This growth surpasses the target of 20 GW by 2022, outlined in the original National Solar Mission (NSM) in 2019. India has set its sights on the much-needed target of 500 GW of renewable energy before 2030, a pivotal step toward achieving Net Zero.

Latest Trends Driving the Paradigm Shift

Several key trends are shaping the future of India’s renewable energy sector, including:

Cost Reduction: The cost of renewable energy has reduced drastically, with solar prices dropping from Rs 18/unit in 2019 to the current Rs 2.5 – 3/unit. Offering fixed prices for 25 years, renewables are now significantly cheaper than conventional sources of power and a more stable source, thanks to technological advancements and innovative engineering.

24-hour Round-The-Clock Power: Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can  make renewable energy a 24-hour power source. With the declining costs of battery storage, renewable energy can be stored and used during peak demand hours, making it a viable alternative to conventional energy sources.

Innovative Financing Structures: The advent of new financing structures, including  green bonds and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) are  a significant boost to the renewable energy sector. Green bonds, aimed at funding environmentally sustainable projects, offer developers access to capital markets with potentially lower borrowing costs. InVITs, on the other hand, allow developers to monetise their assets and provide investors with an opportunity to invest in infrastructure projects, including renewable energy. These innovative financing mechanisms are attracting greater investment into the sector, driving growth and facilitating the expansion of renewable energy capacity in India.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics: The integration of AI and data analytics in the renewable energy sector is revolutionising the way solar plants are managed and operated. By creating digital twins of solar plants, developers can simulate and optimise plant performance, leading to increased output and efficiency. This technology enables predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making, further enhancing the reliability and profitability of solar energy projects.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in solar panel efficiency, wind turbine design, and energy storage solutions are enhancing the viability and performance of renewable energy systems and further helping reduce costs.

Decentralisation and Rooftop Solar: The growing emphasis on decentralised energy generation, particularly rooftop solar installations, is driven by the falling costs of solar panels and the need for energy security at the local level.

Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement: An increasing number of corporate are committing to procure renewable energy directly from developers, leading to a surge in corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) for wind and solar energy.

Electric Mobility: The push for electric vehicles (EVs) in India is creating new opportunities for renewable energy, particularly in charging infrastructure powered by solar and wind energy.

Green Hydrogen: India’s exploration of green hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative for industries and transportation is setting the stage for a new era in renewable energy utilisation.

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

  By Tanya Singhal, Founder, Mynzo CarbonIndia's renewable

Company News, Finance, Funding, India, Start ups, Sustainable Energy

Funding will utilise for team building, customer support enhancement, and also to enhance marketing, branding and visibility amongst its potential B2B and B2C audiences.

Lucknow-based Urja Sathi, a pioneering, one-stop sustainable energy-tech platform for buying and selling renewable energy solutions in India, has raised seed funding of INR 3.5 million from visionary entrepreneurs-cum-investors Ankitt Jain and Sharlee Jain. The seed investment has been facilitated by Neeraj Kumar Pawar and Ayu Sharma, Co-Founders of Pror in Pvt Ltd. Notably, Urja Sathi’s founder had recently pitched his business idea at the PROR India Wealth Summit. Urja Sathi would utilize the newly acquired seed capital to acquire talent, improve customer support, and to enhance marketing, branding and visibility amongst its potential B2B and B2C audiences.

This marks Urja Sathi’s maiden fundraising round; prior to this, the startup had remained bootstrapped since its inception in 2023. Urja Sathi (www.urjasathi.com) has introduced India’s first-of-its-kind, privately-owned online marketplace portal exclusively dedicated to renewable energy-based, environment-friendly products and services, with an emphasis on solar at the moment. The groundbreaking e-commerce portal, launched in January this year, aims to democratize access to various types of clean energy technologies for today’s end-users, making it simpler, seamless and highly sustainable for both individuals and businesses to embrace solar and other forms of sustainable energy at scale.

Speaking on the fundraise, Anurag Srivastava, Founder, Urja Sathi said, “We are excited to announce our first funding round, and would like to thank our esteemed investors Ankitt Jain and Sharlee Jain for putting their faith in us, and endorsing Urja Sathi’s mission and efforts. This investment marks a significant new chapter in Urja Sathi’s journey, and fuels our long-term vision of bringing all buyers, sellers, and a diverse range of key ecosystem players of the clean energy segment in India under one roof via our platform, and eventually becoming the biggest, most efficient and credible marketplace in India catering to renewable energy. Through the Urja Sathi marketplace portal and upcoming app, we are committed to streamlining the adoption of solar and clean energy for both residential and commercial customers in India. This in turn shall be instrumental in elevating the entire industry to new heights and aiding India’s sustainability goals in terms of becoming global clean energy leader by the end of this decade and moving towards Net Zero by 2070”.

Ankit Jain and Sharlee Jain, Co-Founders of Paper Arizona, and investors at Urja Sathi commented, “Harnessing renewables and solar for meeting our country’s energy needs and improving energy security have never been more important; and Urja Sathi, with its focus on marketplace, technology, and solar, is poised to positively transform and revolutionize the clean energy business in India. We were impressed by Anurag and his team’s vision and dedication to make sustainable and clean energy more accessible, profitable and efficient for everyone, and therefore decided to back Urja Sathi in fast-tracking their growth journey.”

Saurabh Jain, Co-Founder, FSV Capital, and advisor & mentor at Urja Sathi added, “In the present-day era defined by eco-consciousness and technological advancements, Urja Sathi is fostering the best of both ideals, and gaining rapid traction in India’s emerging yet highly potent solar business landscape. Their steadfast commitment towards sustainability and innovation is commendable, and I am confident of their ability to catalyse the green energy ecosystem”.

Funding will utilise for team building, customer

Agrotech, Company News, Dairy, India, Live Stock

Move aimed at supporting pioneering of smallholder dairy farming transformation.

 Sid’s Farm, a premium dairy brand based in Telangana, announced its selection as a participant in the prestigious Inclusive Business Program by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). This milestone was reached with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ecociate, Endeva (Coach), and Sid’s Farm (Coachee), further cementing their commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable business practices.

Under the Inclusive Business Program, Sid’s Farm will embark on an ambitious project titled “Improving Smallholder Dairy Farmers’ Milk Productivity by 1.2x Annually.” This project aims to generate meaningful social impact for smallholder farmers and individuals at the base of the economic pyramid, all while ensuring economic viability.

According to Santosh Gupta, Director, Sustainable Agriculture at Ecociate, “We are excited about the potential this coaching program holds for an inclusive business journey and are keen to start working with Sid’s Farm. Their commitment to inclusive business marks a significant step forward in our collaboration. Together we can bring about lasting changes in the realm of sustainable agricultural practices in India.”

Commenting on the inclusion, Dr Kishore Indukuri, Founder, Sid’s Farm said “We are honoured to have received this opportunity. We have been working tirelessly for years now towards the creation of ethical and sustainable dairy farming practices within our ever-growing network of farmers, and it is truly humbling when you are among the chosen few for a prestigious and impactful ESCAP programme as recognition of your efforts.”

The program will target 500 small-scale producers, with a special focus on empowering women in agriculture, with 300 female smallholder dairy farmers. By June 2024, a comprehensive comparison will be made between the progress reports submitted by Sid’s Farm in October 2023 and the projected results. Sid’s Farm aims to achieve a remarkable 20% increase in milk productivity among these farmers, directly or indirectly benefitting a network of 2,200 individuals.

ESCAP’s decision to select Sid’s Farm for its coaching services is a testament to the company’s dedication to fostering positive social and economic change at the grassroots level. In-depth discussions took place during a physical session involving Sid’s Farm’s team members, leading to this exciting partnership.

Furthermore, as a participant in the ESCAP Inclusive Business Program, Sid’s Farm is honoured to be invited to join the prestigious investment dialogue in India and participate in various other activities that align with the program’s objectives. These activities are being facilitated by ESCAP with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sid’s Farm is committed to making a significant difference in the lives of smallholder dairy farmers and the communities at the base of the economic pyramid. This partnership with ESCAP, Ecociate, and Endeva is a significant step towards a brighter and more sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.

Move aimed at supporting pioneering of smallholder

Agrotech, India, Interaction

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Prem Kumar Vislawath, Founder, Marut Drones takes us through the scope and scale of agri drone innovation and adoption in Indian agriculture. Edited excerpts:

Marut Drones has been awarded the Type Certification approvals from the Director General of Civil Aviation for the multi-utility agricultural drone in the small category (less than 25kg) called the AG-365S. This drone has undergone thorough testing and has been developed with a strong build. Only drones that have been issued a UIN number are permitted to operate within Indian airspace, as stated in the UAS Rules-2021. Certification from the DGCA is granted following an exhaustive testing procedure of unmanned aerial vehicles carried out in a number of testing labs that have been granted NABL accreditation. This certification is based on quality checks. This requires the UAV to undergo a battery of material, environmental, and operational testing to ensure that its activities are safe, secure, and reliable.

The accreditation makes it possible for the Hyderabad-based company to introduce its agricultural drone technology to users, which has the potential to completely transform agriculture in India. In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Prem Kumar Vislawath, Founder, Marut Drones takes us through the scope and scale of agri drone innovation and adoption in Indian agriculture. Edited excerpts:

Recently, your AG-365S kisan drone Multi-utility Agriculture small Category Drone has received the prestigious DGCA approved type certificate. How can development enhance your project reach?

The DGCA-approved AG-365S Kisan Drone by Marut Drones offers an impressive array of features that make it a game-changer in Indian agriculture:

a. Swappable Payloads for Multi-Utility: One of its standout features is swappable payloads, making it a multi-utility tool for farmers. This flexibility allows farmers to adapt the drone for various tasks, from pesticide spraying, granule spreading to crop monitoring, significantly increasing its value and versatility.

b. High Endurance: The AG-365S boasts high endurance, enabling it to fly 22min on a single full charge. This high flight time Minimises the need for frequent recharging or battery swaps, optimising operational efficiency.

c.  Obstacle Avoidance & Terrain Management Sensors: Equipped with advanced obstacle avoidance and terrain management sensors, the drone can navigate through complex agricultural landscapes with precision and safety. It can avoid obstacles such as trees or buildings, ensuring smooth and accident-free operations.

d. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Crops: Marut Drones provides customised Standard Operating Procedures for 7+ crops, and SOPs for 35+ crops are under development in collaboration with renowned institues and partners such as PJTSAU, ICRISAT, NIPHM.

Incorporating these features, the AG-365S Drone redefines precision agriculture in India, offering farmers a reliable, efficient, and adaptable solution to meet their diverse agricultural needs.

What are the major challenges faced by drone manufacturers especially in agriculture sector?

Non-compliance with aviation regulations and airspace restrictions can lead to legal and operational issues. Delays or disruptions in the supply chain can impact the availability of critical components for drone operations.

While some state governments in India have initiated subsidy programs to promote the adoption of agricultural drones, there is often a lack of uniformity and consistency in these schemes. Manufacturers must navigate a complex landscape of varying subsidy policies, eligibility criteria, and application processes, making it challenging to plan and market their products effectively.

The effective use of drones for pesticide spraying depends on the availability of ULV formulations that are suitable for drone-based application. Manufacturers need to collaborate with chemical companies and regulatory bodies to develop and approve drone-compatible ULV formulations. This requires extensive research and development efforts and navigating regulatory hurdles.

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

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Prem

Agrotech, India, IT, Opinions, Supply Chain

 By Ananda Verma, Founder, Fasal

The Indian agriculture sector is facing various challenges such as land fragmentation, climate change, declining soil fertility, low productivity, limited access to markets, high input costs and more. Open-source technology can be a game-changer in dealing with these issues and the government has already started setting up the foundation.

According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global precision agriculture market size was valued at $6,457 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $23,056 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.4 per cent from 2020 to 2030. Incorporating technology into agriculture has no doubt been transformative empirically but has also enabled farmers to easily connect with other farmers, researchers, and industry professionals for knowledge-sharing and promoting collaborative work within the industry. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work” and agritech has been a key catalyst in facilitating this shift.

What is open-source technology?

Within the tech ecosystem, there is a specific approach to software development called open source which has been taking root in the agriculture sector lately. It refers to any software or technology whose source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute it freely. It typically involves a collaborative and transparent development process, with a community of developers working together to improve and maintain the technology.

Open source can be used for a wide range of applications, from software development tools and operating systems to databases and web frameworks. It is often favoured by developers and organisations because of its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and community-driven development model. We are already surrounded by open-source tech and most likely use them in our daily lives. WordPress is a perfect example and is an open-source content management system used to create websites and blogs. The classification extends to tools like Python, MySQL, Git and many more.

Opening up doors in agriculture

Open-source technology is playing a significant role in revolutionising agriculture by providing farmers with access to new tools, data, and knowledge, and enabling them to make more informed decisions about their farming practices. The interoperability and openness that come with the territory make it very valuable to many stakeholders in the agriculture supply chain.

Within the agritech segment, hardware is as important as the supporting software. Open-source hardware is a growing field, with developers and farmers collaborating to create low-cost, easy-to-use sensors, drones, and other farming tools that can be customised to meet specific needs. It is enabling farmers to collect data on crop and soil conditions, monitor weather patterns, and optimise irrigation and fertilisation, among other things.

Parallely, open-source software is being used to develop a wide range of applications for agriculture, including crop-modelling, yield-forecasting, farm-management software etc. This type of software enables farmers to optimise their farming practices, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.

As part of any agritech solution, data plays a significant role in providing actionable insights to farmers. Open data initiatives are providing farmers with access to large amounts of data on weather patterns, soil conditions, crop yields, and more. This data can be used to inform decisions about planting and harvesting and to improve overall farm-management practices. The Open Data Kit is a popular example of an open-source tool used for data collection in agriculture.

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

 By Ananda Verma, Founder, FasalThe Indian agriculture

Company News, Horticulture, India, Start ups

Fasal Fresh simplifies procurement by bringing end-to-end traceability & demand-specific sourcing directly from their precision farm network to buyers.

Bengaluru based Fasal, India’s earliest sustainable horticulture farm network company and the one-stop-shop for horticulturalists, today announced expansion into the farming output business with the launch of ‘Fasal Fresh’. Fasal Fresh removes intermediaries in procurement to ensure fairer prices for farmers while bringing end-consumers export-quality produce that has been grown using Fasal’s proprietary farm-level crop intelligence systems.

Through its patented IoT system called Kranti, Fasal has been making horticulture farming guesswork-free with advanced irrigation alerts, farm level forecasts, and pest/disease forewarnings. Today, Fasal works with Indian farmers over 60,000 acres across 20+ crops, who are leveraging this technology. Fasal Fresh, which has been in the works since last year with a focus on building the horticulture farming network, will directly bring the produce grown via precision farming to the end consumers via retailers/e-tailers, wholesalers and exporters.  Currently, Fasal Fresh is operational in Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad with its Mumbai operations planned for March this year.

Shailendra Tiwari, Founder, Fasal, said, “Procurement of fruits across the country remains fragmented and hindered by several issues in the value chain like lack of any visibility of supply, quality inconsistency, and wastage of produce during transit, among others. But with our progressive horticulture approach through differentiated tech deployed on large acreages combined with the Fasal Fresh network, we are able to solve a lot of these supply chain issues.

We can completely revamp the entire value chain by providing a consistent supply of high-quality produce to buyers and significantly better compensation to the farmers. The network is built to bring a higher level of predictability and traceability to the horticulture supply chain via tech at a scale which was not possible before. “To drive the business vertical, a veteran horticulture supply chain expert, Manoj Kumar, has joined as Director, Fasal Fresh. “Through Fasal Fresh, we are excited to directly connect farmers growing high-quality produce using Fasal’s IoT systems and advisories with exporters, modern retailers, and end consumers. The aim is to have assured availability of precisely grown, high quality and sustainable fruits with competitive pricing for the end-consumers while ensuring transparency in deals and timely payments for the farmers – all using Fasal’s end-to-end platform,” added Manoj Kumar, Director, Fasal Fresh.

Our predictability in supply allows consistent availability of high-quality sorted, graded, and packed produce enabling buyers to plan well in advance and minimize transit loss. Fasal Fresh aims to be a system that dramatically simplifies the lives of farmers, sellers, retailers as well as end-consumers in gaining access to safer and healthier fruits as well as vegetables at fair prices. Right from making conscious decisions to use only required levels of pesticides to eco-friendly packaging, Fasal Fresh comes with the promise of access to safer, precise and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables.

Fasal Fresh simplifies procurement by bringing end-to-end

Agrotech, Animal Health, Company News, India, People

In 2016, Rajiv was awarded the ‘Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA)

Rajiv Gandhi, Founder, CEO & Managing Director of Hester Biosciences has been appointed as Chairman FICCI Gujarat State Council. Rajiv is a member of the governing council for Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA), Chimanbhai Patel Institute, Ahmedabad, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat and National Advisory Committee for Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sector, constituted by The Government of India.

Rajiv Gandhi, born 11 July 1962, is a first-generation entrepreneur. A B.com graduate from Bombay University, he started a proprietary trading company in 1985 in Mumbai for distributing animal health products with no experience or knowledge in animal health business. He then transformed that proprietary business into Asia’s largest single location animal vaccine and health products manufacturing company based in Ahmedabad under the name of Hester Biosciences. Hester is now a 500 people-strong organisation which recorded a turnover of Rs 219.35 crores in the financial year 2021-22, earning a net profit of Rs 39.52 crores.

While commenting on the appointment, Rajiv Gandhi, Founder, CEO & Managing Director of Hester Biosciences said, “It is both, an honor as well as a responsibility to serve and strengthen FICCI in Gujarat. This is a time of great global curiosity towards India. Gujarat being an economic powerhouse, will play a big role in further accelerating India’s growth. My endeavor will be to support wealth creators especially young entrepreneurs. My endeavor is to also continue to work on the path set by the immediate past FICCI Gujarat State Council Chairperson Geeta Goradia as well as work under the leadership of FICCI President Subhrakant Panda towards the objectives of FICCI.”

Hester subsequently expanded its animal vaccine manufacturing activities by setting up plants in Nepal and in Tanzania respectively. In 2016, Rajiv was awarded the ‘Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA).

In 2016, Rajiv was awarded the ‘Outstanding

Agrotech, Interaction

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Aneesh Jain,  Founder, Gram Unnati talks about the current status of agriculture in India.  Edited excerpts;

Agriculture is unquestionably the most important component of the Indian economy both in terms of its contribution to the GDP as well as a source of employment for the majority of the country’s  population. This sector is currently showing immense opportunities, with India presently being one of the world’s largest agricultural producers by value. Gram Unnati is  working closely with multiple stakeholders to help farmers in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand save 4,000 litres per acre by bringing climate-compatible agriculture to over 5,000 acres of farmland. In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Aneesh Jain,  Founder,Gram Unnati talks about the current situation in agriculture in India.  Edited excerpts;

What are the major plans in store for 2022-2023, particularly in terms of investments and product launches in India?

We plan to launch our end-to-end technology application suite for farmers, our on-ground field executives, and our sales enablement platform to optimise market linkages for large agro processors and input manufacturers.

What is so unique about your company? How does it stand different from others in competition?

Unlike most competition Gram Unnati is present across the value chain and works directly with large agro processors. We believe in bringing the market to the farmers rather than the other way round and that we believe would be our biggest edge.

How do you foresee the future of the agriculture industry in India in the next 5 years?

New-age technologies focus on robotics, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, block chain technology, and more. Use of digital and analytic tools is driving continuous improvement in agriculture, resulting in improving crop yields and helping in the overall income enhancement and improvement in livelihoods of the farming community. The Government of India has contributed to this by launching the Digital Agriculture Mission initiated from 2021-2025 for projects based on new technologies. 

Over the next five years more farmers will get access to smart devices and will be more digitally connected. Modernisation of the agriculture sector will continue by infusing the new-age technologies that will not only help in increasing incomes of farmers but will also contribute to food and nutrition security of the nation while being climate compatible. 

Please list out the key achievements of your company since inception, particularly in terms of product launches, patents, R&D investment.

  • Over the last 9 years of operations, we have been able to onboard 200,000+ farmers across 7 states in our network
  • We have grown 5x in top-line during the pandemic years and 100 per cent + annually over the last three years with stable and improving unit economics as a result of our structured approach and maturing relationships that we have built with 20+ major agro processors pan India
  • We have been able to bring about sustainable income enhancement of 15-20 per cent within our farmer network
  • We are a trusted enablement partner for various state governments, national agencies, farmer mobilisation organisations, and agro-logistics companies.

How much revenue was generated in FY 21-22? What are the growth expectations this year?

We are expecting hyperscale growth (500 per cent + Y-o-Y) over the next three years driven by a healthy pipeline. We have a strong order book in place across diversified customers comprising a mix of MNCs, Indian (listed and unlisted) and export-oriented players.

Any new technological innovations you are planning to introduce that specifically help the agri & food industry?

We are developing an end-to-end technology application suite for farmers, our on-ground field executives, and building a sales enablement platform to optimise market linkages for large agro processors and input manufacturers.

How are you aiming to expand your reach in India?

  • Currently we are partnering with various state governments, national agencies, farmer mobilisation organisations, and agro-logistics companies. Through these partnerships we expect to strengthen our on-ground presence and are targeting to have 850,000+ farmers within our network by 2025. 
  • We are looking at both horizontal and vertical expansion opportunities. This includes expansion into new commodities such as livestock, aquaculture as well as new segments like precision agriculture, farm management, and financial services. 

What are the major challenges you are facing in the industry?

The Agriculture Industry is facing highly uncertain times, as witnessed recently when the government banned wheat exports in mid of May due to record-breaking heatwave damaged crops. Earlier in April, the government was planning to export wheat and help the countries affected by the Russia-Ukraine War. Inefficient practices in the industry have also played a huge role to make the sector highly unorganised. The long chain between the farmer and end user results in distribution of farmers income in the hands of traders and other intermediaries, ultimately resulting in value loss for farmers. Inefficient practices such as sowing high water demanding crops like Summer Paddy in places with less irrigation facilities further contributes to the sustainability issues.

What can be done to improve market linkage and sustainability?

Adopting efficient practices would not only enhance the income for farmers, but will also help in addressing issues of sustainability. To tackle this problem in the short term, advisory and assistance services to farmers will be the most efficient way to guide and support farmers in adopting good agricultural practices.

Long chain of intermediaries has been a problem for the sector and farmers, since they wipe off most of the farmer’s margins. In order to address this, the market linkages must be direct with the farmers, so that the demand can be addressed efficiently and also support in better realisation of the margins. 

                                                                                                        Pooja Yadav

                                                                                                    pooja.yadav@mmactiv.com

In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Aneesh

Acquaculture, Agrotech, Interaction, Start ups

Devleena Bhattacharjee, Founder, Numer8 Analytics interacted with AgroSpectrum about the contribution of women in agribusiness and her work in the fisheries sector. Edited excerpts;

Devleena Bhattacharjee, founder, Numer8 Analytics is the winner of ‘Best Women Agtech Entrepreneur Award 2021’ at the  4th Edition of Summit & Awards for Innovations by Agri Startups organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). She is also the Chairperson of FICCI Fishtech subcommittee  and is working with the FICCI team in bringing a holistic change to the fisheries sector.

Devleena is a data scientist with over 15 years of experience in using data to solve real-world business problems across different domains. Her first data science startup ‘Woocation’ was a risk intelligence platform for the insurance industry. Her second data science startup Numer8 is currently using satellite data along with other sensor data to build profitable, traceable, and sustainable fisheries. Numer8’s product Ofish was  selected by the European Space Agency and the UN World Food Programme for helping address SDG 2, 12, and 14. She started Numer8 as a solo founder in 2017 and now works with a team of data scientists, data architects, and GIS analysts. Devleena interacted with AgroSpectrum about the contribution of women in agribusiness and her work in the fisheries sector. Edited excerpts;

How can we increase participation of  women entrepreneurs in India?

The problem is that as of today though 77 per cent of women aged more than 15 years have a bank account, 53 per cent of that population has not made a single deposit. On the digital ecosystem side, the numbers are even bleaker, only 22 per cent of women have used digital payment in India. This also stems from the fact that across 22 states in India, only 54.8 per cent of women own a personal phone. 

So we are looking at grass root level changes when you speak pan India. The situation is a little better when you look at urban folks, however, growing adoption at scale is still lost in societal, technological, and gender issues. 

So, on a broad level, considering both urban and rural women entrepreneurs, we need to have a couple of primary kinds of inputs as follows:

1. Building financial literacy and increasing access to financial products and services. The product and solutions should be built in a way it is easily accessible across regions, across the economical section, across various languages, ages and demography.

2. Support for increased adoption and incentivisation so that the entire family can participate and be benefitted from having a women entrepreneur at home.

 3. Targeted approach to focus areas that need different interventions like women tech start-up entrepreneurs or women farmers. These will be industry-specific solutions and programs which address micro issues.

Although women are actively heading in different sectors of the agri industry, it is primarily dominated by men in India. How, then, can women’s contribution in agribusiness be increased? 

Rural, Semi-urban, and Urban India are very different geographies to deal with when it comes to fighting gender and societal biases. The problem mutates even further given the economic section the business owners belong to. But on a broad level, I think the problem with women entrepreneurs in agri is not very different from women entrepreneurs in any other business. 

If even I, coming from a somewhat privileged background with some degree of education, could be asked by a bank to submit a male family member’s PAN or Aadhar to authenticate my request for a business loan, imagine what a less privileged woman faces. Financial inclusion, financial and digital literacy education, awareness, and self-help groups go a long way to build sustainable women business owners 

Just speaking of agri urban and rural, I think the following can be done to boost the sector ground up: 

1. All agribusinesses need to report the number of women blue-collared workers they employ and a mandate to have at least a percentage of a board being women to represent women’s set of issues. 

2. Self Help Groups (SHGs) have a brilliant model for improving women’s participation. Financial discipline is generally a women’s thing so SHGs saving first- credit later model can be extended further with goals given to rural women to open their self-owned businesses along with financial and digital literacy  

3. Have a Social P2P lending model like RangDe where an urban women investor in agri can support a rural women entrepreneur 

4. For all urban women entrepreneurs in agribusiness, a grant to involve rural women in their value chain and even a team should be provided 

5. Formal financial products across all banks that provide easy business loans to women with less interest should be provided – this is still something that is not done, even though on papers it says different.  

6. Apart from this, a gender-neutral work environment especially for rural women  entrepreneurs, proper child support packages and an active grievances cell to attend  to any personal and work related complaints should be set up in every village.

How is Numer8 Analytics helping fish farmers leverage data science to make  fishing profitable? 

We are helping fisher folks to reduce their cost of operations by up to 40 per cent and increasing their sales margin by up to 10 per cent. We do this by a combination of fishing advisory, forward and backward market linkages, and finance connect.  

The advisories are provided by analysing satellite data on an hourly basis. Market linkages are offered with traceability to enable supply chain monitoring in place. And our finance connect model is where we are connecting the fishing community with recommended low interest loan providers suited to their credit profile.  

What challenges did your company face initially? 

We are pioneering the application of data science in fisheries. We are the first movers in this which gives us a virgin market to tap into but also a lot of challenges and learnings.

The main challenges we faced initially:  

1) Tough Demography: Reaching out to a group of fisher folks in an area as a captive audience. This community is highly unavailable and does not have the habit of showing up for a scheduled meeting. So, in the initial days, when nobody knew us, it was very few audiences for us to play with 

2) Linguistic Challenges: Overcoming the regional vocabulary challenge. Every state in India is a country by itself. So even though our app supports all regional languages, as a team we had to have folks from across the country to be able to communicate to our users effectively. This was difficult to hire and recruit time wise and cost-wise 

3) Remote Customers: All our customer outreach was extensive in nature in the initial days when we did not have a local presence. In two of the instances, it required me to drive up and down the west coast from Mumbai to Cochin since no local transport enabled us to travel back and forth coastal fishing communities 

4) Industry Biases: We are still struggling with various industry biases against the fishing industry. In addition to that, the application of data science and especially space data analysis to fisheries is a niche area for many to follow and understand, so we are seen with a mixed lens of admiration and doubt. 

Could you take us through your growth strategies and plans for FY 22-23? 

The plan for Numer8 this year is to expand to all states in India for all our business lines that are advisories and market linkages. And especially focus on supply chain efficiency in the export sector for fisheries  

What acclamations have Numer8 Analytics received at the international and national level to date? 

We have received various awards for our work in the fisheries sector, including: o Sep 2018, ESA Copernicus Masters 

o Feb 2019, United Nations World Food Programme

o Dec 2019, ESRI, 1st prize, Geo Innovation 

o July 2020, WIT Tech for Good 

o Nov 2020, Tech Emerge, ADPC – World Bank 

o Feb 2021, ISRO Niti Aayog, ANIC-ARISE 

o Dec 2021, Meity Scale Up 

o Jan 2022, FICCI Best Women Agtech Entrepreneur Award 2021

What do you foresee for women entrepreneurs in the Agri industry? 

The agriculture sector has a lot of participation of women. It employs around 80 per cent of all economically active women in India. This is spread across 33 per cent of the labour force and 48 per cent of the self-employed women farmers. 85 per cent of our rural women are engaged in agriculture, yet, only about 13 per cent own land. In the fisheries supply chain, 72 per cent consists of women. 

So, clearly, the future of women entrepreneurs in the Agri Industry need better acknowledgment and support. They should be given an opportunity to own businesses instead of just being brute labour.

Forbes had published an article in 2020 which read – The Invisible Women of Small Scale Fisheries Contribute 11 per cent of Global Catch. And this is not very much different in other parts of the agri industry. This needs to change.

Dipti Barve

dipti.barve@mmactiv.com

Devleena Bhattacharjee, Founder, Numer8 Analytics interacted with