It’s 5 AM on a balmy September morning, at one of the remotest villages near Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Jajodar Choudhury ( not the real name) gets jolted out of bed by the loud bang of the thunderstorm brewing at a distance. It has been raining quite heavily in the last few days. It’s the end of the Kharif season, and his soybean crop is just days away from being harvested. Normally the monsoons don’t stretch so long, but this year the weather God’s seemed more than happy to stay back.Â
Rains at this time of the year, spell disaster for his crop and livelihood. As stress creases appear on his forehead, he yearns for divine knowledge – If only he had known about the impending rains a week earlier? While access to such information was non-existent for Indian rural farmers earlier, that is not the case anymore.
Enter Agritech, a blend of cutting-edge tools, delivery technology and traditional farming practices has revolutionized farming in recent years.
Agritech, or the use of technology in agriculture, has the potential to play a significant role in rural marketing. This emerging field is changing and reshaping the very foundations of agriculture. It is helping agriculture become more sustainable and profitable for the farmers.
The Challenges of Indian Agriculture
Indian rural farmers face an uphill daily task- be it the unpredictable weather, fragmented land holdings, outdated farming techniques or access to the right marketing platforms.
Compared to their Western counterparts, Indian farmers have significantly lower land holdings, making tech delivery a major problem. Moreover, Indian rural farmers have traditionally suffered due to poor yield because of their inability or unwillingness to adopt mechanized farming.
But just when the situation seemed bleak, a new wave of innovation, driven mainly by startups has ushered in hope and opportunity for our rural farmers. India’s agricultural technology startups have the potential to reach $24 billion in total market value by 2025 according to an EY report.
Embracing Agritech: The Way Forward
At the forefront of this transformation are the pioneers of Agritech. From precision farming and smart irrigation systems to drones and AI-powered crop monitoring, these cutting-edge tools are enabling farmers with the right knowledge and resources they need to overcome the challenges.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways agritech is making a difference and the companies involved in delivering the same.
Precision Farming: Agritech enables precise-targeted farming, where sensors, GPS, and data analytics help farmers optimize inputs, from fertilizer to water, matching the specific needs of each plot of land. This not only boosts crop yields but also reduces the cost of production.
In fact, precision agriculture and farm management players are helping farmer improve their yields by up to 30%
Fasal is one of the pioneers of precision farming and is an IoT-based AI-powered intelligence platform for horticulture crops. It captures real-time farm data and delivers farm-specific and crop-specific recommendations to farmers.
Smart Irrigation: Water shortage is a major problem in many rural areas of India. New technology for agriculture, like smart irrigation systems, is transforming how farmers manage their water. These systems use real-time information about soil, weather, and what crops need to automatically control irrigation. This helps make sure all water is used efficiently.
Drone Technology: Drones are soaring above the fields, providing farmers with unprecedented birds-eye insights. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can capture high-resolution images and data, enabling farmers to monitor crop health, detect pests and diseases, and even deliver targeted treatments with pinpoint accuracy.
Credit – Bharath Sivakumar (What Is Agritech? – Use Cases, Examples, & Future – Feedough )
App-Based Crop Monitoring: Mobile-based applications are helping farmers monitor, and identify diseases and nutrient deficiencies affecting their crops.Â
Plantix, a German-based agri-tech company, created its “Plantix Mobile Kheti” app specifically for Indian farmers. The app provided accurate crop disease diagnoses and other relevant information, through vernacular messaging. Just clicking and sharing an image, can help the farmer diagnose the plant disease or predict possible diseases or nutritional deficiencies. Online farmer communities can also engage and share knowledge through the platform.
We at Ascent Brand Communications had the privilege of working on a project with Plantix and learning about the immense potential of agritech for Indian rural farmers.
Similarly, Unnati is a leading agri-fintech startup in India that empowers farmers & agriculture stakeholders with AI-powered crop monitoring and advisory services.
Biotechnology
Biotech, a major component of agritech focuses on modifying and improving crops.
The main goals of using biotech are:
- Develop crops that can thrive in diverse environments and conditions
- Promote faster and healthier plant growth
- Clean up and restore damaged soil
- Enrich soil nutrients to support plant growth
- Boost agricultural yields and productivity
In essence, biotechnology aims to strengthen crops at their roots – their genetic and cellular makeup – to grow sturdier, higher-yielding plants. This can help sustainably address food supply challenges.
Digital Marketplaces: Digital marketplaces are connecting farmers directly with consumers, cutting out middlemen and ensuring that farmers receive a fair price for their hard-earned produce. This has improved the livelihood of rural farmers immensely.
For NinjaCart connects farmers directly to consumers and shops, allowing fresher produce to reach people faster.
Reshmandi, a product of the agritech startup- Shapos Services Private Limited, is innovating the silk supply chain by connecting sericulture farmers directly with silk reelers, fabric reelers and retailers. This has facilitated farmers in getting better prices for their silk while reducing time to market.
The Ripple Effect: Empowering Rural Communities
The impact of agritech extends far beyond the farm gates. As these new technologies spread, they give power to farmers and change rural communities by improving lives in the following ways.
Increased Earnings: By boosting productivity and efficiency, agritech is helping farmers earn higher incomes, which in turn fuels local economic growth and improves the standard of living in rural areas.
Sustainable Practices: Agritech solutions that promote sustainable farming practices like water conservation and less pesticide use are good for the environment. They ensure farming communities thrive over the long term.
Knowledge Sharing: Agritech platforms are facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices, enabling farmers to learn from each other and adopt innovative techniques tailored to their local conditions.
Fostering Entrepreneurship: The growth of agritech is creating new rural entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are making innovative products and services for the changing agricultural industry.
Agritech Companies Driving the Revolution
Leading the charge in the agritech revolution are a host of innovative companies, each with a unique approach to transforming Indian agriculture. Some of them are-
| Company | Focus Area |
| Fasal | Precision farming and smart irrigation solutions |
| Krishify | Digital marketplace connecting farmers and buyers |
| Unnati | AI-powered crop monitoring and advisory services |
| EM3 Agri Services | Affordable farm machinery and equipment rentals |
| AgNext | Post-harvest quality assessment and supply chain optimization |
The Future of Indian Agriculture: Bright and Bountiful
Looking ahead, there is great potential for agricultural technology in rural India and this might well be the magic wand that every rural farmer is looking forward to. With more investment, government backing, and teamwork between public and private groups, this change can pick up speed. This will open doors to a more prosperous, sustainable, food-secure future
Let’s celebrate the agritech leaders who are driving this revolutionary change. We should all support this transformation that is so important for the health and well-being of our rural communities and the whole country.
If you are an agritech company wanting to reach rural farmers in India, consider reaching out to us.
