Can Agritech startups solve the agriculture and farming issues in India?

The average agricultural output in India during the past 60 years has increased. That's on top of the overall productivity increase. India's green revolution mission, improved road and power generation infrastructure, increased the number of online agriculture store in India, agri-input and supply chain management, agri-process knowledge, and other changes have all contributed to this rise in agricultural output.

After India’s independence, the government made it a priority to increase food production to the point where there would be no need for imports. There is a significant void that needs to be addressed by the next generation of agriculturalists, despite the fact that both the central and state governments have launched numerous agricultural development programmes to boost the growth of the agricultural industry. Scientists developing new farm technology would benefit greatly from incorporating farmers' traditional wisdom, experience, and expertise into their designs. Building relationships with farmers can be challenging since most extension agencies lack a thorough understanding of their clientele. There is a lack of practical understanding of their perspectives and tendencies, their needs and interests, and their strengths and shortcomings.

In order to achieve growth and agricultural development, this article presents several potential business prospects where startups in the form of agriculture companies in India might be formed. This would help the agricultural labourer, rural Indian citizens, farmers, as well as society as a whole. To maximise productivity and yield, farmers must employ effective inputs like fertilisers and agrochemicals. The bulk of the effort would go toward this. Based on this analysis, new ventures might be created to source and distribute agri-inputs to the sector's target customer. Seeds, insecticides, fertilisers, and agrochemicals are all examples of agricultural inputs that research shows farmers still have trouble getting when they need them.

As a result, there is room for new ventures to explore areas like agri-market environment analysis, agricultural input segmentation, agri-product positioning, distribution channel design, and many others. Students majoring in farm science, agriculture biotechnology, or agriculture engineering may be inspired to help new businesses get off the ground. The goal of starting online agriculture store in India, doing their counselling, as well as providing assistance is to increase agricultural output by connecting farmers with specialists who can advise them on pest and disease prevention, crop protection, market fluctuations, crop prices, and animal health care.

Startups offering agribusiness counselling and guidance can tell their clients about the supply and demand for various inputs, as well as the rental and purchase options for agricultural machinery and other necessities. The village, block, or district-level counselling and advice centres may be established if students majoring in plant breeding, agronomy, agri-extension & communication, horticulture, post-harvest technology, as well as animal husbandry were equipped with ICT skills and encouraged to do so. It's possible that in the future, these hubs may also offer soil testing, compost production, and plant nursery.

Farmers, Input management, food processing units, agri-produce traders, as well as retailers are all part of the agri-business sector's supply and value chain, and they're all responsible for meeting customers' diverse needs in a timely and efficient manner. Subsistence farmers, high-tech agro-holdings, biotech boutiques, SMEs, and MNCs are all included in this sector's vast array of businesses. The success of modern agriculture depends on the creation of a viable value chain that benefits farmers and all other participants.

Information about farmers' landholdings and cropping patterns,agri-produce traders, various types and quality of farm produce, a timeline of quantity production, as well as proper supply chain management from farm to retail, could all be provided by startups.

Storage facilities in India play an important role in the country's efforts to ensure food safety and expand its agricultural sector. There are currently three government agencies working to increase the nation's massive storage and warehousing capacities.

India currently holds more than 90mn metric tonnes of agricultural storage space or warehouses for use by government entities. They control 41% of the capacity, with the rest belonging to individual business owners, cooperatives, farmers, and so on. Millions of dollars worth of farm produce are lost each year despite the best efforts of governmental and private warehousing organisations, as well as cold chain logistics services. There is an urgent need for new businesses on a regional scale to oversee the management of farm produce in order to reduce waste and spoilage. Aside from agriculture, industries like retail trade have also felt the necessity for warehouses in the previous two decades.

These days, warehouses aren't just places to preserve things for later use; they're also hubs for a variety of value-added operations that help reduce waste and keep costs down. Warehouses for agriculture companies in India are an integral aspect of the agricultural supply chain. However, the storage industry is local, disorganised, and fragmented, exactly like the agricultural market. Third-party logistic businesses, or public warehouses, are used by many small and medium-sized landowners. Warehouses like these are a great aid to farmers because they can store goods and even help with packing and shipping.

Entrepreneurship in agri-tourism could help our country's rural and agricultural communities recover from their economic decline. Startups in the field of agritourism may in the future offer their customers the chance to harvest their own food at cost savings to both the consumer and the farmer. At the same time, a business of this type can teach curious tourists about farming techniques and climate-optimized plant varieties.

Lohri, Holi, Sankranti, Navaratra, Deepawali, Bihu, Navakalever, Dussera as well as Pongal are just a few examples of the many festivals that can be celebrated in rural areas. Branding can involve arranging trips that teach foreigners about Indian customs and agriculture. Guests are often invited to stay the night in order to give them a flavour of the rustic lifestyle common in several nations. Over the course of the agricultural life cycle, there is a great need for a surge in the number of new businesses dedicated to supporting farmers. The agriculture and related sectors receive a sizable portion of the central government's current budget.

Book My Crop is a sophisticated online platform that connects buyers and farmers from all across India.