Ventures in Indian agriculture showing the way - Part 2 of 2

We bring today few ventures which we feel shall inspire many of our readers in exploring this uncharted but essential territory. Agriculture significantly needs improvements across the entire value chain.

Organic Jaggery tastes Sweet Success - ARB Organic Jaggery

Mr Rajkumar Kharb of Hisar (Haryana) started his enterprise in organic farming. He started working with sugarcane growers and advocated to avoid mono-cropping in sugarcane, and advised against heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. He directed the growers to realise the full potential of the soil in increasing yields.

He completely transformed his twenty acres of land in a completely organic sugarcane farm. He used a traditional and easy-to-prepare organic concoction ‘Jivamrut’ and also advised farmers to use it to boost soil fertility. He also grouped 50 sugarcane growers from five villages and is today involved in making organic Jaggery. The quality of Jaggery is high with a longer shelf life since it is manufactured from organically grown sugarcane. Since it is organic, the sugarcane drink also fetched better prices and improved profit margins.

When the Banker walks the talk of Agripreneur - Shri Basaveshwar Souhardha Sahakari Niyamita

Mr Channappa Zalaki, a banker by profession, started his agricultural cooperative society to connect farmers directly to the consumers so that farmers get a better price for their produce. It is also involved in trading and sale of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds through an established network of 150+ cooperatives. The cooperative society also established two retail and one wholesale outlet covering 175 villages and 3000 farmers. Hence, society could generate employment for rural youth in the three districts as it is involved in a variety of activities.

Leaf Culture: Cloning 100% Mother Characteristic - Eden Garden Nursery

Eden Nursery Garden holds the status of ‘India’s first organic nursery’. Also, it is known for the innovation - Leaf Culture - a new technology in the propagation of plants from leaves, the first of its kind in India. Mr Rajarathnam uses organic materials such as tender coconut water to induce roots and to standardise the leaves to be used.

Farm mechanisation in smallholdings - Star Agri Clinic

Fragmented farm holdings make individual ownership of machinery unviable for small farmers. Around 85% of farm holdings in India belong to small and marginal farmers cultivating less than two hectares. A tractor needs at least a thousand hours of operation annually to be economically viable, while two hectares means at most hundred hours. This makes it very difficult for small landholders to purchase tractors and other farm implements.

Understanding these challenges, Mr M. Anandane, a resident of Thirukkanur (Puducherry), got fully involved in farm mechanisation to service the farmers through smart farming, and started a Custom Hiring Centre. Farm machinery available for hire has reduced manual labour for farmers and lowered the cost of cultivation, which had gone up due to a labour shortage. Farmers renting equipment have reported yields rising by around twenty percent.

We, at PLEA Universe, firmly believe this decade belongs to the innovative agri-tech enterprises, and there is scope for plenty more startups to fit in. A plenty more. We only hope that mechanisation/advancement in the agricultural industry gets more ecologically sustainable.