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:
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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.
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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%.
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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.
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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
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For Farmers: Crofarm means more predictable demand, higher earnings (with market guidance), and prompt digital payments—ending the cycle of uncertainty and debt.
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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.
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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.
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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.
