Agri News Archives

BharatAgri: The Digital Doctor for India’s Farmlands

by Shahu Pawar | Aug 21, 2025 | Agri Startups, Startoscope

BharatAgri: The Digital Doctor for India’s Farmlands

In India’s vibrant farmlands, a new revolution is quietly transforming how millions of farmers grow their crops and run their businesses. Born from the challenges of Vidarbha’s cotton fields and powered by the innovation hubs of IIT Madras, BharatAgri is championing a uniquely Indian model: where personalized, science-driven agri-advisory meets a farmer-friendly online marketplace, accessible right from Karnataka and beyond.

The Spark: Bringing Science Home to the Fields

Co-founded in 2017 by Sai Gole and Siddharth Dialani, both with deep roots in farming families and top-notch engineering backgrounds, BharatAgri began as an effort to answer a question they’d both faced growing up: How can Indian farmers get reliable, scientific advice and quality products without leaving their villages? They saw that farmers lacked systematic knowledge in agronomy, were often misled or underserved by local retailers, and missed out on crucial timely interventions for better yields.

The Solution: LeanNutri Algorithm, Personalized Advice, and E-Commerce

Dubbed a “doctor for India’s farmlands,” BharatAgri’s secret sauce is its LeanNutri algorithm—a tech marvel that tailors recommendations to each plot’s specific crop, soil, and weather data. Farmers start with a consultation, get a digital “prescription” for what, when, and how much to sow, fertilize, or spray, and benefit from real-time, local language alerts for pest and disease threats.

Precision Advisory: From sowing to harvest, every step is backed by data and agro-science.
E-commerce Empowerment: Inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides—literally the “medicines” for crops—are available in a vast, vetted marketplace delivered to the farmer’s doorstep, even in remote villages. No more stock-outs or long waits, and no need to trust the local shopkeeper over genuine quality.
Pest & Disease Focus: Farmers receive early alerts and best-in-class solutions for pest and disease management, boosting yields and minimizing losses.

Tyler Niday and Ugur Oezdemir Pioneering AI-Powered Autonomous Farming with Bonsai Robotics (1)

The Impact: Growth, Profit, and Sustainability

BharatAgri isn’t just about advice—it’s about results. Farmers using the platform see up to 30% higher production and a 20% reduction in costs, thanks to tailored recommendations and faster, better access to inputs. With over four million farmers served and a reach across 20,000+ pin codes in India, the platform reduces greenhouse emissions by promoting sustainable practices and guides farmers toward healthier soil and water use.

The Hook: Bharatiya Roots, Digital Heights

Picture a farmer in Karnataka, getting a custom plan for her chickpea field, ordering “crop medicine” with the click of a button, and harvesting higher yields with less worry about pests, market shortages, or misinformation. That’s BharatAgri’s dream in action: bridging ancient farming wisdom with next-gen technology.

With its unique blend of personalized agri-advisory, science-powered algorithms, and rural e-commerce, BharatAgri is setting a new standard—where every Indian farmer can access the right knowledge and products at the right time, and realize the full potential of their land.

Crofarm: Reinventing India’s Fresh Supply Chain—from Field to Fork

by Shahu Pawar | Aug 7, 2025 | Agri Startups, Startoscope

Crofarm: In the bustling urban sprawl of Delhi NCR, Crofarm is leading a digital revolution in agriculture—using AI-driven logistics to connect farmers directly with businesses, reduce waste, and ensure every tomato or mango arrives crisp and fair-priced.

The Backstory: Building from the Ground Up

Founded in 2016 by Varun Khurana and Prashant Jain, Crofarm’s journey began in the world of grocery logistics. The co-founders previously launched Mygreenbox, a grocery delivery startup acquired by Grofers, and quickly realized the biggest pain wasn’t delivery—it was the chaos and waste in the upstream supply chain. Layer after layer of middlemen made produce expensive for consumers and unrewarding for farmers, with up to 40% of fresh food lost before even reaching the city.

Determined to fix this, Varun and Prashant plunged into India’s heartland, visiting farms across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. There, they saw the real challenges: farmers struggling with unpredictability, delayed payments, and lack of market access. The duo envisioned a transparent, tech-powered network that would give both farmers and buyers a better deal.

The Solution: AI-Powered Agri Logistics at Scale

Crofarm set up a robust, AI-driven digital supply chain to tackle the root of the problem:

Direct Sourcing: They buy fruits and vegetables straight from over 20,000 farmers in more than twelve states, cutting out traditional market “mandis.” This shrinks costs and guarantees timely, electronic payments to farmers.
Demand Prediction: Crofarm uses advanced machine learning to forecast exactly what and how much produce is needed by retailers and consumers. This tech has slashed wastage from 30-40% in traditional systems to under 4%, and sometimes as low as 3%.
Fast Turnaround: Their system moves produce from farms to city warehouses within hours. Warehouse operations—sorting, quality checking, and last-mile dispatch—are optimized by smart software, with live rider tracking and routing to ensure ultra-fresh, just-in-time delivery.
Traceability: Every veggie can be traced back to its farm, building consumer trust and rewarding growers for premium quality through a blockchain-based traceability and incentive system.

Impact: A Win-Win for Farmers, Retailers, and the Planet

For Farmers: Crofarm means more predictable demand, higher earnings (with market guidance), and prompt digital payments—ending the cycle of uncertainty and debt.
For Retailers and Consumers: Reliable, daily deliveries of fresh, nutritious produce; transparent pricing; and the assurance of quality, with fewer hands (and less time) between harvest and plate.
On Wastage and Efficiency: Tech-driven demand prediction has brought food waste down to one-tenth of market averages. This saves money, natural resources, and environmental impact.
For Women & Local Communities: Through its sister brand Otipy, Crofarm empowers over 500 women resellers to distribute at the hyperlocal level, boosting rural incomes and building a new “farmer-to-family” economy.

The Hook: A New Era for India’s Food Chain

Crofarm isn’t just a logistics startup—it’s a community. By weaving together AI, a passionate farmer network, and modern supply chain muscle, it’s making Indian agriculture more transparent, profitable, and sustainable. Their relentless focus has already created a digital, cross-country expressway for India’s fruits and veggies—one that’s fairer to the field and fresher to the fork.

Crofarm’s story proves that with the right blend of tech and purpose, even the most challenging supply chains can be rebuilt for people and planet alike—a harvest of hope for millions.

Early Monsoon Rains Raise Hopes for Record Grain Harvest in India

by Shahu Pawar | Jul 6, 2025 | Farming

Early Monsoon Rains Raise Hopes for Record Grain Harvest in India

Early and widespread monsoon rains across India have sparked optimism for a record grain harvest this year, as farmers accelerate the sowing of rice, oilseeds, and pulses. According to Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, the timely arrival of rains ahead of schedule in many regions has allowed farmers to begin planting earlier than usual, setting the stage for a potentially bumper crop season.

Monsoon Arrives Early, Boosts Sowing

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that monsoon rains blanketed the country nine days ahead of the typical schedule, marking the earliest nationwide coverage since 2020. June rainfall was 9% above normal, and the IMD forecasts above-average precipitation for July, the wettest month of the season. This early and abundant rainfall has improved soil moisture and enabled the timely sowing of key crops, particularly in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

“Farmers have been able to begin sowing earlier than usual. If rains continue at a normal pace through the critical months to September, it could benefit both the current crops and the upcoming winter harvest,” Chaturvedi said.

Vital for Economy and Food Security

India, the world’s second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugarcane, relies on the monsoon to irrigate more than half of its farmland. The monsoon delivers nearly 70% of the water needed for agriculture, directly impacting crop yields, rural incomes, and inflation. Above-average rainfall not only strengthens food security for India’s 1.4 billion people but also supports economic growth and stabilizes global agricultural markets1.

No Fertilizer or Seed Shortages

Chaturvedi addressed concerns about input supplies, stating that stocks of urea, di-ammonium phosphate, and potash are sufficient for the season, despite India’s reliance on imports for some fertilizers. Seed availability is also being closely monitored to ensure farmers receive certified, high-quality materials.

Government Initiatives and Crop Diversification

While rice remains a preferred crop due to minimum support prices and state bonuses, the government is encouraging diversification. Minimum support prices for pulses, including pigeon pea, black gram, and lentils, have been guaranteed for four years to stabilize supplies and support farmers. The national ethanol blending program is also promoting increased corn cultivation.

Outlook Remains Positive

If the favorable rainfall continues through September, experts and officials believe 2025 could be a record year for Indian agriculture, benefiting both monsoon and winter crops. “This could be a record year for Indian agriculture,” Chaturvedi said, reflecting the positive sentiment shared by farmers and policymakers alike.

With the monsoon off to a strong start and robust support from government schemes, India’s agricultural sector is well-positioned for growth, providing hope for improved rural incomes and stable food supplies in the coming months.

References

How will the new trade deal affect Indian farmers and US companies

by Shahu Pawar | Jul 3, 2025 | Import / Export, Livestock

The new India-US trade deal is expected to have mixed effects for Indian farmers and US companies, especially in the agriculture and dairy sectors.

Impact on Indian Farmers:

High Risks for Small Farmers: If India lowers tariffs on US dairy and agricultural products, millions of small Indian farmers could be at risk.
Even a small increase in US imports—just 5% market share—could displace 3–4 million marginal dairy farmers. The US has a significant productivity advantage, with much higher milk yields per cow than India.
Threat from Subsidized and GM Crops: US agriculture is heavily subsidized, and American companies are pushing for access for genetically modified (GM) crops like soybeans and maize. Experts warn that allowing
these imports could cause a crash in prices for Indian farmers, especially for the 24 million who grow soybeans and maize. This could further impoverish farmers, as domestic prices may fall below government-set minimum support prices.
Livelihoods at Stake: Over 700 million Indians depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Opening up the market to US agricultural products could lead to dumping of cheap, subsidized goods, threatening food
security and rural incomes.

Impact on US Companies:

Market Access and Competitiveness: US companies stand to gain significant new access to India’s vast market of 1.4 billion consumers. Lower tariffs would help American businesses compete more effectively,
especially in sectors like agriculture, dairy, automobiles, and industrial goods.
Potential for Growth: The US is particularly interested in exporting more farm products such as maize, soybeans, cotton, and dairy to India, which could help reduce the US trade deficit with India.
Regulatory Barriers Remain: While tariff reductions are helpful, US companies still face challenges from India’s non-tariff barriers and strict quality control regulations, which can limit the actual impact of
the deal.

Summary Table:

Group	Potential Benefits	Key Risks/Challenges
Indian Farmers	Avoidance of steep US tariffs on exports	Loss of income, price crashes, competition from subsidized/GM US imports, threat to small/marginal farmers
US Companies	Greater market access, increased exports, improved competitiveness	Indian non-tariff barriers, regulatory hurdles, limited scope if India protects sensitive sectors

Overall :

The deal’s main immediate benefit for India is avoiding a steep 26% US tariff on its exports, which would help Indian exporters remain competitive. However, unless India maintains protections for its agriculture and dairy sectors, the
livelihoods of millions of small farmers could be at risk. For US companies, the deal could open up new opportunities in India, but success will depend on how much India is willing to open its markets and relax regulatory barriers.

“Tyler Niday and Ugur Oezdemir: Pioneering AI-Powered Autonomous Farming with Bonsai Robotics”

by Shahu Pawar | Jul 3, 2025 | Agri Startups, Startoscope

Bonsai Robotics: Reimagining Farming with Vision-Based Autonomy

Bonsai Robotics is a California-based startup that’s rapidly redefining the future of agriculture through AI-powered, vision-based autonomous navigation for farm equipment. Founded by industry veterans Tyler Niday (CEO) and Ugur Oezdemir (CTO), the company’s mission is to tackle some of farming’s toughest challenges, starting with the labor crisis in orchards and other permanent crop environments.

The Founders & Their Vision

Tyler Niday, Bonsai’s Co-Founder and CEO, is no stranger to agricultural innovation. Before launching Bonsai Robotics, he spent seven years at Blue River Technology and John Deere, where he was instrumental in developing the pioneering “See & Spray” technology and led the autonomy team. His career began at Orchard Machinery Corporation (OMC), designing advanced equipment for the nut industry—a background that gave him firsthand insight into the sector’s pain points.

Ugur Oezdemir, Co-Founder and CTO, brings deep expertise in robotics and computer vision. He helped build autonomy stacks at John Deere and Blue River, and contributed to Airbus’s Vahana project, as well as senior roles at Volkswagen, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz.

The Genesis: Solving a Growing Crisis

The story of Bonsai Robotics is rooted in a simple but urgent problem: a severe and worsening shortage of farm labor. Modern orchards, especially in the nut industry, require intensive manual work that’s increasingly hard to staff. Recognizing this, Bonsai Robotics set out to automate the most grueling, repetitive, and hazardous tasks by making farm vehicles “see” and “think” like humans, without relying on GPS, cellular, or internet connections.

Their flagship technology, Visionsteer, uses advanced computer vision and AI models trained on a vast orchard dataset. This allows tractors and harvesters to navigate independently, even in harsh, GPS-denied environments filled with dust, darkness, debris, and uneven terrain. The result: machines that can operate safely and efficiently, day or night, in conditions where traditional automation fails.

Impact: Transforming Farming from the Ground Up

For farmers, Bonsai’s autonomy means:

Labor relief: Machines take over repetitive, physically demanding jobs, addressing the chronic shortage of workers.
Efficiency: Jobs are completed up to 60% more effectively and efficiently, reducing operational costs and increasing productivity
Resilience: The technology works in the toughest conditions—no more downtime due to poor GPS or lack of connectivity
Data-driven insights: Growers get real-time data, analysis, and notifications to make better decisions about their operations.

For the agriculture industry, Bonsai Robotics is a game-changer:

Sustainability: By optimizing resource use and minimizing waste, their systems support more sustainable farming practices.
Scalability: OEM partnerships allow Bonsai’s technology to be integrated into new or existing equipment, accelerating adoption across the industry.
Future-proofing: As the farming population ages and labor becomes scarcer, automation ensures food production can keep pace with global demand.

The Journey & What’s Next

Bonsai Robotics has already made headlines with successful collaborations, like transforming OMC’s historic Shockwave tree shakers into fully autonomous harvesters. Their recent funding rounds, including a $10.5 million seed and a $15 million Series A, reflect strong investor confidence and will fuel further R&D and commercialization.

As CEO Tyler Niday puts it:

“We are revolutionizing orchard farming by automating some of the industry’s most challenging processes…offering farmers seamless solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability.”

With its bold vision, cutting-edge tech, and relentless focus on real-world problems, Bonsai Robotics is not just building smarter machines—it’s cultivating a future where automation and agriculture grow together

US, India Rush to Finalize Tariff-Reducing Trade Deal as Disputes Over Dairy and Agriculture Persist

by Shahu Pawar | Jul 3, 2025 | Global Agri, Import / Export, Policies

US, India Rush to Finalize Tariff-Reducing Trade Deal as Disputes Over Dairy and Agriculture Persist

With just days left before a major tariff deadline, the United States and India are working around the clock to finalize an interim
trade deal that could lower tariffs and boost economic ties. However, talks remain stuck on sensitive issues—especially agriculture and dairy—where both sides are refusing to back down.

What’s at Stake?

The US has threatened to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 26% if a deal is not reached by July 9. Currently, a temporary 10% tariff is in place to allow time for negotiations.
Both countries want to avoid these higher tariffs, which would hurt exporters and consumers on both sides.

Key Disagreements

The US is pushing India to open its markets for American farm products, including genetically modified crops and dairy. These are politically sensitive in India, where the dairy sector supports over 80 million people, many of them small farmers.
India has firmly refused to allow more US dairy imports or genetically modified crops, citing risks to food safety and the livelihoods of rural families. “There is no question of conceding on dairy. That’s a red line,” said a senior Indian official.
India also wants the US to lower tariffs on its labor-intensive exports like garments, footwear, and leather, which are important for jobs in India.

Progress and Hopes

Despite the deadlock on agriculture, negotiators have made progress in other areas, such as reducing tariffs on walnuts, cranberries, medical devices, automobiles, and energy products from the US.
Both sides see this interim deal as a first step towards a broader agreement that could double trade to $500 billion by 2030.

Why Is This Important?

The deal is not just about economics. Both countries see it as a way to strengthen their partnership at a time of global uncertainty and competition.
US President Donald Trump has said he is optimistic about reaching a deal that will help American companies compete in India’s vast market of 1.4 billion people.

What Happens Next?

Indian negotiators have extended their stay in Washington, hoping to bridge the gap before the July 9 deadline.
If no deal is reached, tariffs will rise, making many products more expensive and possibly straining relations between the two countries.

As the clock ticks down, both Washington and New Delhi are under pressure to find common ground, without compromising on their core interests. The outcome will affect not just trade, but the broader relationship between two of the world’s largest democracies.