Today more than one thousand agritech startups are operating in the country. About 160 of these have been funded. According to a NASSCOM report, more than 17 billion rupees have been invested in these startups in the first six months of 2019. This is 300 percent more than last year. Connecting to the market, digital presence of agricultural produce and products has taken it further. According to a research, every ninth agritech startup in the world is starting in India. Technology sector companies are coming up with new business models.

Conditions are better
There are many startups, who are informing farmers about the quality of soil through imagery techniques. This has helped the farmers to use the right fertilizer and seeds according to the soil. Startup ‘Arogyam Medicose’ has created a device with technology to test soil and water. Many startups are involved in providing farmers with information about infection, climate as well as water availability, sprinkler systems. Pune-based startup ‘Bioprime Agri Solution’ has developed many products for healthy and rapid yield of plants. Their products help in teaching the crops by protecting them from external effects. A startup named Gramophone is associated with this work, which is giving information related to agriculture to farmers through toll free numbers. Kritasanam Technology, a startup in Kanpur, has designed a product that delivers the right amount of water to the crops at the right time to increase crop yields. Many financial institutions have also come forward to solve the debt problems of farmers. The government is helping to improve the financial condition of the farmers at their level. For example, the startup Agribolo partnerships bring the business model. Their Kisan Seva Kendras, along with banks and financial institutions, also provide financial assistance to farmers at a low interest rate. Not only this, the sector is growing at an average rate of 25 per cent. The digitization of the agricultural sector is said to be a major reason. Similarly, Noida-based startup ‘EM3’ rents high quality equipment and machines to the farmers community, which can be booked online or via phone. Similarly, Startup Gold Farm has services. All these agritech startups are helping farmers to get better value of their produce, giving better distribution system and increasing their income by reducing middlemen. Needless to say that there are good career prospects in agriculture today.

New thinking changes circumstances
This sector is undergoing change due to innovation. Farmers’ demand for agricultural produce has increased in the organized sector due to the government’s attention in the food processing sector. The agriculture sector has been strengthened with the approval of the Mega Food Park. As local farmers engage with better solutions for agritech startups, all forms of business have received a boost. This has led to a better hold on the market, rapid use of technology. There is an expectation that by 2020 the Agritech sector will be at the heart of innovation. This will see a big change in the country.

Study opportunities
There are opportunities at different levels in agribusiness. That is, there can be opportunities for the youth interested in finance, technology and non-technical fields. However, special study of agriculture gives an opportunity to get to know this area closely and it is easy to enter. To help in this, post graduation courses are conducted in many institutions on the subject of Agribusiness. During the course, there are opportunities to do internships in the agro industry and also facilitate campus placements.

Premier institute
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Chandrasekhar Azad University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh
Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand
Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar
ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (Norm), Hyderabad

What are the capabilities
Interest in agriculture and various prepared food products
Willingness to work in rural processing units
Monitoring of demand and supply of Agro Products in the international market
Ability to convince large farmers for contract farming
Rational thinking and leadership ability
Communication skills
Patient personality and faith in teamwork

What are the capabilities
Interest in agriculture and various prepared food products
Willingness to work in rural processing units
Monitoring of demand and supply of Agro Products in the international market
Ability to convince large farmers for contract farming
Rational thinking and leadership ability
Communication skills
Patient personality and faith in teamwork

Author: Official Website:- www.employmentnewz24.com