BS EDIT: How startups and technology can transform Indian agriculture

A sector at crossroads

Indian agriculture must tackle climate change and outdated practices by adopting technology and innovation for efficiency and sustainability

Rise of agritech startups

Of 130,000 DPIIT-recognised startups, only 4.7 per cent focus on agriculture. These startups hold promise but face hurdles like funding and others

Challenges to scaling innovation

Startups face:

• Long funding cycles

• Fragmented agricultural systems

• High costs of advanced technologies

• Poor availability of granular satellite data

Boosting farmer trust and access

Farmers face high costs, fragmented landholdings, and uncertain returns; engagement, cost reduction, and trust-building can boost tech adoption

Govt steps towards innovation

• Bio-RIDE Scheme: Cutting-edge biotech R&D

• Agri incubators: Nurturing startups

• IDEA Framework: Robotics, drones, and data analytics

Road ahead for agritech

Boost agricultural research and structural reforms to drive innovation, raise farm incomes, and ensure long-term sector growth