Tag: farming sector

  • Growth of AgriTech Startups In India: Government Initiatives, Leading Agritech Startups and More

    Since the Indus Valley Civilisation, agriculture has been the lifeline of India. We have 70% of Indian households still dependent on farming, contributing 17–18% to the country’s GDP, according to the latest report.

    Agritech startups have great potential in India. There is a huge scope of Agritech startups for India’s farmers who are striving against unreliable climate changes, water scarcity, price hikes, and many other problems.

    What Are Agritech Startups?
    Why is there a Need For Agritech Startups in India?
    Initiatives by Indian Government For Agritech Startups
    Growth of Agriech Startups in India
    Which States are Focusing on Agritech Startups in India?
    Leading Agritech Startups in India

    What Are Agritech Startups?

    Agritech is the concept of applying modern technologies to the agricultural sector with a view of enhancing and producing with efficiency and generating sufficient revenue to support livelihoods.

    The concept extends to any kind of applications, practices, products, and services that enhance any aspect, whether input or output, of the agricultural process.

    Why is there a Need For Agritech Startups in India?

    Today’s farmer faces a lot of challenges to sustain their livelihood through farming. Malpractices in the unorganized agricultural markets and the absence of organized marketing systems for production are becoming a major concern for Indian farmers.

    Moreover, they have to deal with poor transportation and storage services and much more. They have limited access to superior technology to get timely information and agricultural solutions which leaves them vulnerable and all by themselves.

    Agritech startups have the potential to address these challenges from the very beginning, and subsequently change the face of Indian agriculture. They are the knights in shining armour for Indian farmers.

    Initiatives by Indian Government For Agritech Startups

    The Government of India has been dynamically making policies to improve farmers’ lives in India. In fact, the government has promised its citizens to double the incomes of farmers by the end of 2022.

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said that the government will support new entrepreneurs in driving value addition to farmers’ produce from the field.

    The NITI Aayog is collaborating with companies like IBM to pilot technology-driven solutions for the agriculture sector in order to provide real-time advice to the farmers. As a result, artificial intelligence is being used to develop crop-yield protection models.


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    Growth of Agriech Startups in India

    The Agritech sector is a fast-growing sector with great potential to benefit Indian agriculture and eventually raise farmers’ incomes. Currently, India has 450 Agritech startups and is reported to grow by 25% every year by NASSCOM.

    A wave of Agritech startups has emerged in the last few years in India. In India Agritech sector has come a long way with 43 startups in 2013 to more than 1000 startups in 2020, driven by rising in rural internet penetration, a rise in post-harvest and supply chain losses, a growing number of investors interest in the sector, etc.

    They are now able to solve agricultural problems such as the use of outdated equipment, supply chain management, lack of proper infrastructure, and farmers unable to access a wider range of markets with ease.

    According to the latest report, over 3.23 billion dollars were invested in the agriculture sector worldwide. Of this, 53 Indian Agritech startups raised 313 million dollars. This is a huge breakthrough for Indian startups and these figures will inspire young entrepreneurial minds of our country to seek in the direction of agricultural technology.

    Which States are Focusing on Agritech Startups in India?

    Although all states are aware of the importance of Agritech startups for agriculture to flourish, some states have actually established startup ecosystem hubs. Karnataka and Maharashtra together account for almost 50 percent of the total Agritech startups opened in the past 5 years in the whole country.

    Although Gujarat has a low share in Agritech startups, according to the State Startup Ranking Report 2018 published by The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), it is the best-performing state in the Indian Agritech startup ecosystem hub.

    Leading Agritech Startups in India

    1) Ecozen Solutions

    Ecozen Solutions Logo
    Ecozen Solutions Logo

    Based in Pune, this Agritech startup was founded in 2010 by Devendra Gupta, Prateek Singhal, and Vivek Pandey. It focuses on developing technology-enabled products to strengthen the farm-to-fork value chain of perishables, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable development.

    Till now, Ecozen has developed two products so far:

    • Ecofrost, is a device that acts as a portable cold room that maintains a low temperature. It works on solar power.
    • Ecotron, a pump controller for irrigation that also works on solar power.

    According to the company, approximately 20,000 farmers in India have used their products. But the owners don’t want to stop there. They are planning to enter new areas for irrigation sales and launch a new set of cold-chain products.

    2) FreshVnF

    FreshVnF Logo
    FreshVnF Logo

    FreshVnF is founded by entrepreneurs Atul Kumar, Vikas Dosala, Sumit Rai, and Aashish Krishnatre in 2018. It is a Mumbai based Agritech startup that uses machine learning (ML) to optimize a farm-to-fork supply chain by connecting farmers with hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

    FrenshVnf is a prospering company, having recently raised 2 million dollars in a funding round led by Equanimity Ventures. It has delivered around 15 tonnes of fresh produce per day to more than 300 clients. The company now aims to provide fresh farm produce to the end customer within 16 hours of harvesting.

    3) FIB-SOL Life Technologies

    FIB-SOL Life Technologies Logo
    FIB-SOL Life Technologies Logo

    FIB-SOL Life Technologies is an agritech startup that was founded in 2013 by a team of post-doctoral and doctoral scholars of IIT Madras. The company’s technology is focused on developing low-cost bio-fertilizers that help farmers to improve crop yield and soil quality.

    The company offers three products for its customers under GEL and DROPS which provide microbial nutrients to enrich the fertility of farmlands. They are priced at Rs 420 and Rs 100, respectively.

    FIB-SOL also aims to improve product shelf life for manufacturers, help suppliers stock inventory efficiently, and eventually boost farmers’ income. In May last year, the startup received Rs 1.5 crore in angel investment from Keiretsu Forum in Chennai.


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    Conclusion

    Agritech startups are the need of the nation right now. More and more entrepreneurs are setting up companies in this field, grabbing the opportunity to transform the sector. The government policies are also giving thrust to these startups so that they can easily find investors. The farmers can finally look forward to better price realization now and embrace this new initiative.

    FAQs

    What is agriTech?

    AgriTech is the concept of applying modern technologies to the agricultural sector with a view of enhancing and producing with efficiency and generating sufficient revenue to support livelihoods.

    How many agritech startups are there in India?

    There are nearly 600 to 700 agritech startups in India.

    Are there any listed agritech companies in India?

    Bayer CropScience, Godrej Agrovert, and PI Industries are some of the listed agritech companies in India.

    Why is agritech important in India?

    AgriTech promises to help farmers increase crop yields, improve animal health, reduce waste, lower carbon footprints, and improve scalability by easing the burden of labour-intensive tasks.

    What do agritech companies do?

    AgriTech companies work on products, services or applications derived from agriculture that improve various processes. Technology and data can open new opportunities and help solve problems with production, traceability, and the preservation of natural resources.

  • Robotic Farming- The Upcoming Revolution In The Agriculture Sector

    The collaboration of agriculture with technology might be the most revolutionary one that’s ever been. Agriculture is an industry that accounts for a major portion of a country’s growth and economic stability.

    The evolution of the agricultural industry from a basic occupation to a full-fledged high-tech industry has altered the parameters of development and the standards keep on rising. Let us get a complete insight into robotics agriculture and its impact.

    Need of Robotics in the Farming Industry
    History of Agricultural Robots
    Demand in The Market
    What Can Agricultural Robots Do?
    Application of Robotics in Agriculture
    Benefits of Robotic Farming
    Agricultural Robotics Companies

    Need of Robotics in the Farming Industry

    The world is growing at a supersonic speed and predictions say that a number as high as 9 billion would represent the human population by 2050. To cater to a world so big, a striking growth in agricultural production is required. This might justify why farmers’ are taking assistance from the robotic world. This gives a hint about Robotic Farming and Its Impact.

    Customer service, manufacturing, mining, packaging, shipping and transportation are all industries that are already using robots to increase their outputs and aim to double the involvement.

    The boom in the artificial intelligence sector, the rising population, and the invention of more and more utilitarian robots have caused agriculture to open its gates to innovation. The Verified Market Research, says that the agricultural robots market is expected to touch $11.58 billion by 2025, becoming one of the well-invested markets in the upcoming decade.

    History of Agricultural Robots

    The first vision of robotics was visible in the agriculture scenario, which can be traced back to the 1920s while doing research-related work i.e. use of automatic vehicle guidance. This landed the advancements between the 1950s and 60s of automated agricultural vehicles. Other developments in this field over the years include the harvesting of oranges using a robot both in France and the US.

    The indoor industrial settings had used robots for decades, outdoor robots for the use of agriculture are considered a little more complicated and difficult to furnish. Concerns over safety, over the complexity of picking crops subject to different environmental factors and unpredictability, make the process a little more demanding.

    Demand in The Market

    There is a looming fear related to the dearth of labour and increasing demands. With a majority population of ageing manpower, countries like Japan are failing to meet the labour market’s clamour. Similarly, in the US, this sector mainly depends on immigrant workers, but the decline in seasonal farmworkers and the country’s notion to stop immigration makes it difficult to meet the bars.

    What Can Agricultural Robots Do?

    Agricultural robots usually come in handy to perform tasks that are slow, repetitive, and dull for farmers. Robotic farming can help the farmers to focus more on improving the overall yield.

    The common duties that agricultural robots can perform are:

    • Soil analysis
    • Phenotyping
    • Weed Control
    • Sorting and packing
    • Harvesting and picking
    • Environmental Monitoring
    • Automated mowing, pruning, seeding, spraying

    Caring and harvesting crops are some of the most common activities for which many robotic farming companies are developing robots. For instance, Fendt’s Xaver robot, expected to hit the market this year, can execute tasks such as planting and fertilizing crops like corn, weed control, and scouting operations.

    Vision Robotics from San Diego is working on robots that will perform “thinning,” which ensures that seeds have sufficient space apart during planting, fastening their growth.

    Application of Robotics in Agriculture

    Robots have also played a crucial role in preventing losses as big as $43 billion due to weeds resistant to herbicides. They are also set to help farmers by preventing some of the $43 billion losses created by herbicide-resistant weeds. Later, many robotic farming companies like Blue River Technology has introduced a See & Spray robot in the market and marketed it as an effective weed-spraying machine.

    Monitoring huge agricultural fields is a humongous task. New sensor and geo-mapping technologies allow farmers to get a much-advanced level of data about their crops than they ever had. Drones and ground robots provide a way to collect this data autonomously.

    Another example is the TerraSentia robot, developed by EarthSense which can autonomously move through the fields and use sensors to monitor various plant parameters to analyze the crops without any need for human intervention. It can also be further developed to detect common plant ailments. The data will progressively help scientists to understand the optimal environment to nurture the best crops.

    Benefits of Robotic Farming

    Irrigating and fertilizing crops is one of the key steps in nurturing healthy crops. Evidently, this uses excess water decreasing efficiency. Inventions like Robot-Assisted Precision Irrigation can help in reducing wasted water by targeting specific plants. Ground robots autonomously navigate through the rows of crops and pour water directly at the base of each plant.

    Robots have an additional ability to access areas where other machines cannot. Robotic advancements will also help in filling the decreasing manpower in the agriculture sector. Robots that are being developed have a workload capacity equivalent to 30 human workers.

    This will allow the farmers to focus more on the entrepreneurial aspects rather than the manual work involved. These will lead to labour and time savings along with an increase in crop yield, proving that technological progress is prevailing in all aspects of our lives. It will empower the farmers to spend a little less time in the business and more time on the business.

    Agricultural Robotics Companies

    • Blue River Technology.
    • Harvest CROO Robotics.
    • PEAT.
    • Trace Genomics.
    • SkySquirrel Technologies Inc.
    • aWhere.
    • FarmShots.
    • Abundant Robotics.

    Conclusion

    Though the potential of these machines is extraordinary, they inevitably lead us to the archaic fear that robots will replace human manpower. The positive outlook can be that the farmworkers can function as the operators and managers supervising these automata.

    The demand for food is surpassing available land for growing crops and only farmers can fill the gap. Involving robotic power in the sector will not only enhance the agricultural process but will help in increasing the outputs manifold.

    We are still in beginner levels of the age of robotics agriculture with most of the inventions in the early trial phases and the R&D phase. These Agribots can create a massive altercation and prove that the future will witness an overpowering reliance on AI, steered by humans.

    FAQ

    What is the future of robotics in agriculture?

    The use of Agricultural Robots will lead to skilled jobs. It just means that the new generation of farmers will need more advanced skills to work alongside robots. Today’s farmworkers will become tomorrow’s fleet managers who oversee robotic farming systems and autonomous vehicles.

    What are the uses of robots in agriculture?

    Agricultural Robot Applications – Some of the most common robots in agriculture are used for harvesting and picking, weed control, autonomous mowing, pruning, seeding, spraying, and thinning.

    What is the future of the agricultural robots market?

    According to many researchers, the agricultural robot market should have an annual growth rate of over 20% until 2022. Today, a vast majority of robotics on farms are for milking cows or indoor machines. But soon, robots will start working outdoors in the future.

    Some of the popular robots in agriculture are, Ecorobotix, Nano Technologies, Energid Citrus Picking System, Agrobot E-Series, Blue River LettuceBot2, Agribotix, Vision Robotics, and RoBoPlant.

    How AI can help agriculture?

    AI-enabled agriculture bots help farmers to find more efficient ways to protect their crops from weeds. AI bots in the agriculture field can harvest crops at a higher volume and faster pace than human labourers. By leveraging computer vision, it helps to monitor the weed and spray them.

    What are agricultural robots?

    Agricultural robots automate slow, repetitive, and dull tasks for farmers, allowing them to focus more on improving overall production yields. Some of the most common robots in the agriculture sector are used for: Harvesting and picking, weed control, autonomous mowing, pruning, seeding, spraying and thinning.

  • Amazon Agritech | How Amazon Enters Agritech to Help Farmers?

    Amazon has set high standards in e-commerce as well as in many other fields. But the Agritech sector is a new sector on which Amazon is focussing right now due to many different reasons. And also, when it comes to agriculture, you cannot ignore India. Amazon also has big plans for the Indian Agri sector. The Indian agriculture sector is currently experiencing a lot of influence from private players. Amazon is trying to Invest in the Agritech space in India to make some modern changes. This may secure the farm produce in the Indian agricultural sector. Let’s jump into the topic to know more about it.

    How will Amazon help farmers?
    How is Amazon Entering Agritech?
    Benefits of Amazon Agritech
    Government Plans For The Agritech Sector
    Conclusion
    FAQs

    How will Amazon help farmers?

    Amazon retail is trying to help farmers in India by launching its agronomy services which will notify the farmers about important crop-related data. These early notifications and information will help the farmers to make the necessary decisions for their crops. Now, this whole process takes place through an application through which necessary information is conveyed to the farmers related to crops, and it’s production. Amazon has entered the Agritech sector to secure farm produce. This farm produce yields two-thirds of the country’s $1 trillion retail spendings. Also, in India, many crops are not grown throughout the year. The government aims to bring in the private players to improve the farm work by yielding good results from suitable technology available. Amazon is a private giant which can invest a nice amount of money in reforming the agricultural sector.

    Reactive and proactive plant programs supported by Amazon will provide cutting-edge technology to farmers and other crop growers. The dedicated mobile application will provide farmers with real-time advice and information on crop data and insights. As a Private company, Amazon tends to stretch its boundaries in different sectors, and the Agritech sector is perhaps one of the most developing sectors in the current time. Also, crop data needs critical analysis to be processed, and farmers will proceed accordingly, which will improve the crop produce. Private players could fulfill these factors in a better way if they cooperate with the government.

    How is Amazon Entering Agritech?

    Agronomy services launched by Amazon retail is a new footprint by a private company in the Agritech field of Indian agriculture. This system will provide early guidance and advice to farmers on crop production and other insights. Also, Amazon focuses on machine learning to improve productivity and build a more convenient supply infrastructure. According to Amazon’s Indian senior officials, this technology will improve the quality of crop production and will yield good results.

    Also, with this launch, the Amazon Agritech solutions have created an ecosystem through agronomist-powered field interventions. Also, tools were added to track down these field interventions. But every step requires huge support from the farmers on the field. Amazon needs to deliver good quality services with an agreement to supply vegetables and fruits of desired quality. Supply chain is a big challenge for Amazon. Old supply chains may damage the product, which will result in loss of trust and money. As a private giant, it’s not that difficult for the company to invest a big amount in the modernization of the supply chain.

    Benefits of Amazon Agritech

    Amazon Agritech
    Amazon Agritech

    This system makes sure that farmers make accurate decisions about their crops on time. The instructions and timely advice help the farmers to get early data on how to manage crop production and increase farm produce. Also, the supply chains can be processed properly now with the interface as well as farmers will get informed about rotten or damaged fruits and vegetables. This will improve the quality of fruits and vegetables, which will reach millions of customers. The government is also aiming to harness profit through suitable technology available. India is a developing nation, so the agricultural sector must get proper reforms.

    Also, farmers are showing interest in tech-led innovation in the field of farming. Smart farming methods will make it more profitable for the farmers to grow proper quality crops without much wastage. This technology will improve the results of the farming process and will deliver better. Amazon retail has also planned a proper temperature-controlled supply chain. This will ensure proper and safe transportation of the produce from the farm to the processing centers. After this, the packing process will take place with proper monitoring and will be dispatched to Amazon stores near customers. The Advancement in technology will help in upgrading the older ways of supplies and gathering farming data.

    Government Plans For The Agritech Sector

    The government of India is seeking a partnership of private giants to revolutionize the Indian agricultural sector. The technology provided by Companies such as Amazon will help to increase the farm yields. As a developing nation, India may see huge reforms in the agricultural sector in the next decade from a more modern perspective. The introduction to machine learning and artificial intelligence with modern supply chains and better advice on crop production are some of the examples. Some of these have already arrived in India,  as the Amazon Agritech.

    The aim is to increase profit revenue by increasing the farm produce. Also, time delays in supply chains can now be corrected, saving valuable time and capital. Farmers will get early warnings and important updates about the crops, which will help them to work more efficiently in the fields.


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    Conclusion

    The government and private entities will work together to bring suitable reforms to the sector that employs half of India’s population. Also, the agricultural sector contributes highly to India’s GDP, which is why it needs a good amount of investment too. Private companies have huge capital reserves to invest in technologies which can be helpful for the government to bring reforms. But the end decision must stay with the farmers who will work day and night in the crop fields to feed the entire nation.

    FAQs

    What is Amazon Kisan store?

    Amazon India’s Kisan Store help farmers with agriculture inputs like seeds, farm tools & accessories, plant protection, and many other agricultural products at competitive prices.

    What is amazon agronomy service?

    Amazon’s agronomy services empower farmers. It helps in following ways:

    • It gives them timely advice on farming.
    • It enables them to make proper decisions on actions needed for their crops.
    • It introduces machine learning technology for better production.
    • It helps in building a robust supply chain infrastructure.
  • Organic Farming in India: Tips & Tricks

    Starting with something new has always been a fascinating idea. Especially when you are about to start something exclusively for you and your family then it comes with a layer of responsibility since you have to think widely about the positive outcome that they will be expecting from your venture.

    Now, if you are looking to giving organic farming in India a kick start, then there are few things you might need to keep in the mind and at times make your family understand your ideas and convince them so you could accommodate their trust and support as a whole. But before you try and enlighten others, make sure you have enough knowledge with you so you don’t sound confused while answering their doubts.

    What is Organic Farming?
    Basics of Organic Farming
    Volume of your Venture
    Selecting Site for Farming
    Understanding the Soil
    Things to Consider
    Taking Care of Crops
    Understanding the Market
    FAQ’s
    Conclusion

    What is Organic Farming?

    Organic farming in India is a wide-spread strategy for yielding food crops and livestock that includes significantly more than picking the idea of not utilizing fertilizers, pesticides, genetically altered organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones.

    organic farming in india_startuptalky
    Organic Farming in India

    Organic farming in India is a comprehensive framework intended to enhance the profitability and wellness of various networks inside the agro-environment, including soil organisms, plants, animals, and individuals. The chief objective of organic farming in India is to create ventures that are reasonable and sustainable for the environment.

    Organic farming in India is an agrarian strategy that involves utilizing organic information sources and essentially diminishing the measure of synthetic substances. This method of farming also includes no usage of growth hormones in any way that it brings about decreased contamination and soil corruption.

    In this way, the food we consume post-production becomes healthier and we get the absolute fresh and natural things to eat. Not to mention if you are diet conscious or a fitness freak then you must be an admirer of the all-natural way of producing food and consuming them.

    Basics of Organic Farming

    People often perceive things in a different way. What one person involved in organic farming in India believes is correct, trusts in, and practices probably won’t suit the prerequisites and objectives of another person who is also into organic farming in India. As a rule, quickly executing the informal advice can be counterproductive. Therefore, learning the basics of natural and organic farming in India is the initial phase. This certainly gives traces of what one may expect and where one ought to be beginning from. It is useful to infuse resources into pre-hand research.

    Organic farming is growing_startuptalky
    Organic farming is growing

    Additionally, it is also crucial to be attached to discussions with individuals who are presently doing the business. Partake in organic farming in India training projects and farmer-meet-up conferences. The experience of another farmer who already had gone through a similar phase can be extremely useful in making the exploratory process more polished.

    The internet too has an enormous function as there is a huge playlist of instructional exercises, recordings, and online discussions about Organic farming in India. You might also get several books talking about organic farming in India as well. You can stay updated with the latest news related to the most recent patterns in organic farming in India, its advantages, and furthermore its significance with the assistance of OFAI (Organic Farming Association of India) — One of the biggest network of organic farmers in India.

    Also, there is NPOF – the National Project on Organic Farming is, indeed, an extraordinary stage for all the organic farmers in Hyderabad to associate with a differing set of similar people container India.

    Volume of your Venture

    If you are undertaking organic farming for your weekend schedule, you could start in your backyard or terrace. Many of the working experts across the country have begun seeking organic farming in India as of their minor perspective with controlled agricultural techniques that are less labor-oriented.

    However, in case you live in a gated community where this idea is shared among many like-minded individuals, a plot inside your locale can be distributed to make smaller than normal organic farms at a more prominent frequency. If you want to change your passion into a profession then you might need more prominent arrangements and a large-scale investment as well.

    Selecting Site for Farming

    The location of your venture plays an imperative part in any venture to be successful. The area of your organic farming in India typically decides how the endeavor will turn out. The organic farming site ought to be close to a clean water source: water is the most important asset for crop development and health.

    In case, your water source is far away, it is significantly harder to deal with the irrigation measures. As an initiation, this might seem to be a monotonous thought to make but on the other hand, is essential for effective working on your farm.

    The closeness of the organic farming area to the commercial center adds a major function in the manageability of the farm. The farm’s closeness to the market includes easy communication for selling. Likewise, this helps spare costs while shipping materials to the farm.

    These Agritech Startups are changing the Agriculture Industry
    India has the second largest agricultural land in the world. About 60% of ruralIndian households make their living from agriculture. The agro based industrysaw a growth at a CAGR of 16.4% over FY10 to FY18. Agricultural exports fromIndia reached US$ 38.54 billion in FY19 and in FY20 (till Novembe…

    Understanding the Soil

    Soil is considered to be the foundation base of your farm. Starting from its appearance, well-being, and equalization everything is responsible for the production result. Therefore, it essentially becomes important to get when and how to develop your soil and make the most ideal condition for your harvests to endure and flourish.

    Soil is essential_startuptalky
    Soil is essential- Organic farming in India

    Things to Consider

    Here are some things you need to consider before starting your farm.

    1. Cultivation Time

    Not everything will grow every time you put them under the soil and expect them to yield. So need to have a track of time and know which time is suitable for what step you will take.

    Spring (February to April) – Best suitable for preparing the soil for new plantation.

    Fall (October to November) – Suitable for the purpose of covering and layering the organic matter from your farm on the top-soil.

    2. Analyse Your Soil

    Clay or dense soil – Retains a lot of water and is preferable season is the fall, for utilizing the moisture-rich soil effectively.

    Loose or sandy soil – Lower in water retention and is advisable to cultivate during the spring to add the suitable moisture-retention and to create a good ecosystem for your farm.

    3. Types Of Crops

    Deep-rooted crops – Drought resistance as the roots are capable of drawing a high amount of water from within. For instance, tomatoes, pulses, melons, and coarse cereals fall under this.

    Shallow Rooted Crops – Higher dependency of water supply and requires continuous hydration. Monsoon is the best season for these crops. For instance, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, and mustard are the perfect ones.

    4. Organic Manure

    Green Manure – Green fertilizer helps in fostering a superior soil structure and the richness of the soil. They provide organic matter, an extra measure of Nitrogen, particularly if you are going for vegetable cultivation.

    Compost – New deposits from the farm and household residues can be accumulated, saturated, and turn to get aerated at times and deteriorate steadily by reducing the Carbon: Nitrogen proportion.

    Usage of fertilizers_startuptalky
    Usage of fertilizers

    The residues that you can use are the following.

    • Crop straws
    • Crop residues
    • Leaves
    • Bagasse
    • Groundnut husk
    • Paddy husk
    • Sugarcane trash
    • Cattle dung and urine
    • Kitchen and vegetable wastes
    • Household garbage (biodegradable)

    Growth of AgriTech Startups in India
    Since the Indus Valley Civilisation, agriculture has been the lifeline of India.We have 70% of Indian households still dependent on farming, contributing 17–18%to the country’s GDP, according to the latest report. This creates a huge scope of agri-tech startups for India’s farmers who arestrivin…

    Taking Care of Crops

    The way toward growing a crop is very time-consuming. Organic farming in India requires some serious devotion and more consideration contrasted with regular cultivating. There are sure procedures that should be considered relying upon the plant and farm condition.

    Understanding the Market

    Marketing for any startup is a pivotal process to grow. Even in farming, it is imperative to know what sort of market you will need. to provide a good increase. Some horticultural items may not make a good sell in a specific sort of market. This thought is useful in making your venture sustainable.

    growth in organic food sale_startuptalky
    The growth of organic food sale

    While the consequences of organic farming may appear to be alluring, the way toward setting up and keeping up the farm is an extremely hard one. It takes difficult work, tolerance, perseverance, and a high level of confidence. If you need assistance, refer to InAcres — a team of devoted individuals with a goal to promote and produce integrated organic farming in India and there is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) — another team that fosters the pursuit of involving eco-friendly ecosystems all around the country.

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    FAQ’s

    Why organic farming is bad?

    There is a huge downside because of the extra land that is being used to grow organic crops,” said Stefan Wirsenius, an associate professor at Chalmers. “If we use more land for food, we have less land for carbon sequestration. The total greenhouse gas impact from organic farming is higher than conventional farming.”

    What is organic farming and its benefits?

    Compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal wastes back into the farm. These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields.

    Is Organic Farming Profitable in India?

    According to International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD), India has more than 15,000 certified organic farms. Organic farms are generally more profitable and environmentally friendly, as it uses fewer chemicals and the residue is comparatively less chemical-intensive.

    How can I start organic farming in India?

    Things You Need to Know When Starting an Organic Farm

    • Learn the basics of organic farming.
    • The site is key.
    • Match the land with what it is best for.
    • Know your market.
    • Prepare the soil and make good compost.
    • Take care of what you plant.
    • Seek a mentor and network with people.
    • Seek a mentor and network with people.

    Why Organic farming is expensive?

    Organic foods are difficult to grow as they need high involvement and more time to grow. Moreover, lower yields of such crops and poor supply (still developing) chain further increases the production cost.

    What are disadvantages of organic farming?

    Disadvantages of organic farming

    • Organic food is more expensive because farmers do not get as much out of their land as conventional farmers do.
    • Production costs are higher because farmers need more workers.
    • Marketing and distribution are not efficient because organic food is produced in smaller amounts.

    Is organic farming difficult?

    Some areas are natively organic, but others that are large producers of pulses etc., have been farming with chemicals. Converting these into organic has many challenges, however, from a broader perspective, these challenges can be met with proper counter-measures and government policies.

    Conclusion

    Farming these days is done by putting people’s lives at risk with harmful pesticides and fertilizers. The main problem is the population growth in India. As the population increases, the demand and supply for foods are also increased. To cater to the needs, food production is done by using chemical fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and hybrids. Due to the excess use of chemicals, human health and nature are being adversely affected. To solve this issue, Organic Farming is the best possible solution to protect ourselves and nature from deadly chemicals.

    Organic farming is a traditional way of farming that has been followed for ages. In India, organic farming is an agricultural method that is aimed to grow crops so as to keep the soil alive. It is done by following good practices using organic waste, waste crops, animal and farm waste, aquatic waste, and other organic materials.

  • Introduction to Hydroponic Farming and its benefits

    Thinking only of farming and cultivation every mind pictures flat expanses of open land pulsating with life, the fresh harvest of rice, wheat, paddy or vegetables. The canopy of branches with birds fluttering from one bough to the other on a sunny morning, away from cities’ smoke, completes the idea of the idyllic environment. But urban farming is quite different.

    Farm spaces can be set up in an open space like a cubicle-sized room fitted with a tech support system that creates an artificial environment favourable for growth. These hi-tech, advanced model of sustainable farms, operate on the science of hydroponic farming, a soil-free farming technique.

    What is Hydroponic System?

    Hydroponic Farming System is a system of growing crops without soil, often called soilless farming. In the hydroponic system, the liquid nutrient solution is a mixture made up of essential plant nutrients.

    The plant roots are suspended either in the static liquid solution or in a continuously flowing mixture. Unlike the traditional farming system, the hydroponic growing system requires continuous and undivided attention to the crops.

    In hydroponic farming, plants grow naturally with minimal effort, drawing nutrients out of reservoirs filled with nutrients and water-rich solutions, under optimal positioning of lights and adjusted temperature conditions.

    While the technique was a big hit in the other countries, where people initially used hydroponics and its farming variants to grow marijuana, it did not take too long to get the attention of scientists, entrepreneurs and practitioners of agriculture sector around the world.


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    Types of Hydroponic Farming

    The growing system for each type of crop can be different so as the hydroponic system. Before choosing the hydroponic system, it is important to know about the basics of that system which will help in making the decision. Here are some of the types of hydroponic systems.

    Types of Hydroponic Farming System
    Types of Hydroponic Farming System

    Aeroponic System

    Aeroponic System is a type of Hydroponic farming in which it drastically reduces the amount of water used in growing crops.

    In this system, roots get their nutrients and water through the aerosol mist sprayed on them. The roots get oxygen from the air and this system is comparatively challenging to manage but much more economical in the use of nutrients and water.

    Standing Aerated Nutrient Solution

    This system is also known as DWC (Deep Water Culture) system. This is the system in which the nutrient solution is static, suspending the plant roots in the nutrient solution.

    Replacement of nutrient solution is required 5-10 days (frequency depends on the number of plants and the volume). A crop of lettuce can be grown in this system on Styrofoam sheets floating on an aerated nutrient solution.

    Dutch Bucket Grow System

    As the name suggests, this system uses buckets to grow plants. The buckets in the system can vary in size, depending on the requirement of the person. The plants which have much larger roots are grown with the help of Dutch Bucket systems like tomato and cucumber.

    Nutrient Film Technique

    NFT, channels are used in this hydroponic system to grow plants, the nutrient solution keeps flowing in these gully channels. A pump connected to the reservoir pumps the nutrient solution to the channels.

    One of the benefits of the NFT is the easy installation of the system and the relatively low cost of the materials. Also, there are two different types of NFT system which includes Horizontal and Vertical NFT System.


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    Benefits of Hydroponic System

    • Indoor farming in a climate-controlled environment means farms exist in spaces where weather, as well as soil conditions, are unfavourable for a traditional food production system.
    • In this system, no chemical weed or pest control products are needed.
    • No wastage and chances of higher productivity than the traditional farming system.
    • Water is utilization very high when compared to the traditional farming method, up to 80-90% higher.
    • This system eliminates the attack of pests and insects as crops are grown in closed spaces and it provides up to 90% efficient use of water.
    • Production increases 3-10 times in the same amount of space.
    Hydroponic Farming setup in India
    Hydroponic Farming setup in India 

    Elements needed in Hydroponic Farming

    There are several approaches to design hydroponic systems, but there are also necessary core elements.

    Rich Nutrients

    The plant needs plenty of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and other rich nutrients to stay healthy and productive just like plants growing in the ground need soil and fertilizer. When plants are growing without soil, this plant food must be included in the water that’s feeding the plants. While one can make a nutrient solution, it’s easy to buy mixtures online or in stores.

    Freshwater

    Primo, filtered stuff with a balanced pH is required. Most of the plants like water with a pH level of 6–6.5. The acidity of the water can be adjusted with efficient solutions found at the local hardware, garden, or hydroponic store.

    Light

    If the plants are growing indoors, one has to invest in some special lighting. Each type of plant will have a different requirement or need for the amount of light and the placement of lights.

    Oxygen

    In traditional farming, roots get the oxygen from pockets of air in the soil. Depending on the hydroponic setup, you will either have to leave space between the base of the plant and the water reservoir or need to oxygenate the container, which you can solve by buying an air stone or installing an air pump.

    Root Support

    Even though this system doesn’t need soil, the plant’s roots still need something to hold on to. The typical materials include vermiculite, perlite, peat moss and coconut fibre. One has to maintain distance from materials that might compact (like sand) or that don’t retain any moisture (like gravel).

    The Final Note

    With a hydroponic system, one knows the conditions of plants that are being grown in. One has to only find the working formula of light, pH balance, and nutrients, you can replicate success without always getting hit with curveballs.