New Delhi — In a nation where agriculture remains the cornerstone of livelihood for nearly half the population, the launch of Krishi Mangal 3.0 marks another milestone in India’s pursuit of sustainable rural transformation. Announced jointly by Cisco India CSR and Social Alpha, the initiative will scale seven startups developing advanced, farmer-centric technologies to tackle soil degradation, water scarcity, farm mechanization, and post-harvest losses.
The accelerator program, first launched in 2021, blends innovation with impact. It supports entrepreneurs deploying AI, robotics, IoT, and renewable solutions across rural communities. In its third phase, Krishi Mangal aims to reach over 200,000 farmers and 150 farmer-producer organizations across multiple states, backed by non-dilutive funding of up to ₹50 lakhs per startup, with potential for additional seed investments.
The project represents a broader shift: technology as a force multiplier in India’s agrarian economy. As global markets increasingly look to India as a leader in agri-innovation, the nation’s farming ecosystem is undergoing a deep structural transformation—from subsistence to sustainability, from manual toil to data-driven decisions.
Building the Future of Farming
Since its inception, Krishi Mangal has supported 12 startups across two editions, impacting nearly 50,000 farmers and enabling a 14.9% rise in average income. “Each innovator here is a protagonist in bringing India to one of its most critical inflection points,” said a Social Alpha spokesperson. “It’s not only about India; it’s about showing the world how inclusive agricultural innovation can work.”
In this third edition, the focus has turned sharply to climate resilience and precision farming. Startups such as Agribotic Systems, with its indigenous agri-drone technology, and Terracroft Agritech’s KrishiBOT robot, are bridging the gap between automation and accessibility. These innovations—built for smallholders—bring precision spraying, data-based crop monitoring, and gender-neutral operation into the hands of rural communities.
Meanwhile, companies like Bhairaj Organics and Rudra Solar Energy are redefining traditional agribusiness models. Bhairaj’s Desigo system reduces spoilage in India’s milk supply chain using clean energy and traceable AI systems, while Rudra’s solar-powered dryers combat post-harvest losses, offering buy-back models that give farmers fairer market access.
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Technology as a Tool of Inclusion
Ganesh Neelam, co-founder of Social Alpha, calls smallholder farmers “the protagonists of climate resilience.” These farmers, he notes, face the brunt of rising input costs, erratic monsoons, and declining soil fertility. “Through Krishi Mangal 3.0, we are backing entrepreneurs who are building climate-smart, farmer-first innovations,” Neelam said. “Deep science and technology can offer farmers new pathways to resilience.”
Cisco India’s Harish Krishnan echoes that view.
“Technology can make a big difference,” he said, pointing to AI for predicting weather and soil health, IoT for smart irrigation, and blockchain for supply chain transparency.
“These startups aren’t just working on technology; they’re solving real problems for farmers.”
Shri Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission, noted that India has risen from rank 81 in 2015 to 39 in the Global Innovation Index 2024—a remarkable climb driven by its MSME and startup ecosystem.
“India is a land of extreme entrepreneurship,” he said. “Our strength lies in the mindset of ‘we will get it done.”
Seeds of Change
The new cohort of Krishi Mangal startups represents a cross-section of India’s emerging agritech frontier. Surobhi Agro’s Farmology integrates AI-driven soil and crop health monitoring with organic farming practices, while Ekosight Technologies’ Soil Doctor Clinic geotags farms and delivers real-time soil analytics with over 95% accuracy.
ArkaShine Innovations is redefining soil diagnostics through portable AI-powered “point-of-care” devices, empowering farmers with precise crop recommendations. Each of these ventures, while technologically advanced, shares a common mission: to make Indian agriculture more profitable, equitable, and environmentally sound.
