AgriTech platforms provide high-quality input for farmers which has proven to be instrumental in driving up crop yields

TThe screen flashes, and Bimal Roy's 'Do Bigha Zameen' comes to life with an opening scene of farmers anxiously looking at the sky. As the clouds gather, so do the farmers, expecting the rains to bestow their fields. It has been 70 years since Roy's classic, and this scene is as true of Indian farmers today as it was just after Independence, looking upward for innovations to empower them.

Agriculture has been the backbone of sustenance and livelihood in India, marking a significant aspect of the country's socioeconomic landscape. With 55% of our population dependent on agriculture, it remains one of India's primary industries.

Traditionally, farmers in India have encountered restricted access to credible information concerning the quality of agricultural input, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The farm-to-fork food value chain is extremely protracted and is riddled with multiple stakeholders who might not necessarily prioritize the welfare of farmers. This compels them to depend on local suppliers and intermediaries to procure such input, resulting in low valuation. Increasing intermediaries and other factors in this chain engender a reduction in transparency.  As we head into our Amrit Kal, accompanied by their innovative digitized designs, AgriTech platforms emerge as the much-needed relief clouds, safeguarding farmers against unadulterated input.

AgriTech platforms enable farmers to procure dependable and superior quality input by harnessing technological advancements such as data analytics and machine learning.

These platforms safeguard farmers against the aforementioned malpractices by bridging the last mile between the suppliers and farmers via doorstep delivery, providing input from the factory to the farmer. Directly working with peer partners, retailers, and farmers, negotiating prices and dispatching goods, these platforms circumvent the involvement of intermediaries and local suppliers.

Often classified under disruptive tech for having revolutionized the agriculture sector and existing procurement arrangements, AgriTech platforms procure high-quality input for farmers, including high-yielding varieties (HYV) seed, which has proven to be instrumental in driving up crop yields. In addition to providing farmers access to authentic and high-quality input, Agritech startups offer knowledge support by connecting them to experienced agronomists from the industry. By leveraging their expertise, AgriTech platforms guide farmers on the optimal selection of seed and agro-practices suitable for Indian and specifically regional farming conditions, thereby improving the likelihood of a successful harvest.

The accessibility to such expert advice has been crucial in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of farming practices, enabling farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their crop yields.

Amidst a considerable emphasis on technology adoption in our contemporary era, Agritech Platforms have emerged as a catalyst in the endeavour to neutralize the effects of substandard inputs on farming.

The potential for growth in the Indian Agrotech markets has become increasingly apparent, with an increasing number of startups entering the industry and building seamless digital platforms that can fully integrate value chains and fruitful harvests.

With government support and the introduction of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, these platforms have ripened a fertile ground for disruptive innovation in the agriculture sector. We may have come a long way from Do Bigha Zameen but aided with these platforms, the relief clouds may not be far away, and we might be looking at another revolution in India: one bought about by AgriTech

(The writer is the Founder and CEO, of Gramik)