In the desert region of Bajju in Rajasthan, farmers like Jetharam cultivate legumes, oilseeds, and millets across arid interdunal plains. Sandy soils and extreme weather—from sub-zero winters to summers touching 45°C—make agriculture difficult. High input costs and uncertain yields often keep families caught in cycles of intergenerational debt.
Livestock remains a critical lifeline. Indigenous breeds such as Rathi, Tharparker, and Kankrej endure the harsh climate far better than high-yielding breeds like Holstein Friesian or Jersey. Even so, milk production often serves more as a nutritional safety net than a dependable source of income.
A different but equally fragile reality unfolds in Bankura district of West Bengal. Basanto Maity tends nearly 250 papaya plants on his 0.3-acre plot, keeping a careful watch after a recent pest scare nearby. This small farm supports his entire family. Crop choices often rely on advice from traders and middlemen, yet repeated losses in tomatoes, watermelon, and ridge gourd have made farming uncertain. At times, Basanto wonders if migrating to cities like Kolkata or Kharagpur might offer a steadier future—one where his family does not have to worry about going to bed hungry.
Stories like these capture the broader reality of Indian agriculture. Within this context the Krishi Mangal initiative has emerged as a platform to bring deep-tech agricultural innovations directly to rural communities.
When Technology Meets Smallholder Farming
Since 2022, Krishi Mangal has partnered with startups and farming communities to conduct field deployments and generate early evidence on how technology can improve farm profitability and productivity. These pilots help innovators refine their solutions while ensuring that technologies remain practical and accessible for farmers.
Through these collaborations, farming communities are beginning to see tangible benefits - including lower input usage, reduced labour costs, improved access to markets, and less food wastage. Over time, these improvements contribute to stronger livelihoods and a better quality of life for farming families.
The third edition of Krishi Mangal brings seven promising startups to the forefront, each addressing a critical challenge across the agricultural value chain.
Krishi Mangal is a flagship initiative designed to bridge the gap between high-tech agricultural innovation and the practical needs of India’s smallholder farmers.
As of early 2026, the program has entered its third major phase, significantly expanding its footprint across rural India.
Core Focus Areas
The program identifies and funds startups working in five critical domains:
Soil Rejuvenation & Irrigation: Tools for PCR-based microbial profiling and IoT-integrated smart irrigation to combat the fact that nearly 60% of Indian soil is nutrient-deficient.
Integrated Farming Management: AI-driven platforms for pest detection and precision agriculture to reduce the 30–40% yield loss currently caused by poor resource management.
Post-Harvest Management: Tech-enabled cold chains and processing units to reduce food waste and help farmers get better prices for their produce.
Farm Mechanisation: Developing lightweight, gender-sensitive, and affordable tools (like solar-assisted autonomous weeders) specifically for small landholdings.
Livestock & Waste Management: Converting crop stubble and livestock waste into value-added products like biodegradable packaging or bio-energy.
Measurable Impact (2021–2026)
Since its inception, Krishi Mangal has evolved from a pilot project into a major rural accelerator:
Farmer Reach: Enabled over 200,000 farmers to access advanced agricultural technology.
Income Growth: Helped more than 50,000 farmers measurably increase their annual household income.
Livelihood Creation: Generated over 1,000 direct jobs within the local rural economy.
Startup Support: Provided grants (up to ₹50 Lakhs per startup) and mentorship to nearly 20 high-impact Agri-tech ventures.
Success Stories: Innovation in Action
Several startups supported by the program are already changing the landscape:
Dharaksha Ecosolutions: Uses biotechnology to convert crop stubble into biodegradable packaging, providing farmers an alternative to burning waste and reducing air pollution.
Animeta Agritech: Provides a 24/7 digital animal healthcare platform, helping rural livestock owners diagnose diseases instantly via AI-powered chatbots.
Niyo Farm Tech: Specialized in designing ergonomic, low-cost sprayers that reduce physical labor (drudgery) while improving chemical application efficiency.
Mivipro: Developed Herboliv+, a bio-liquid that masks crop odors to prevent damage from wild animals without using harmful chemicals.
Why It Matters
For India’s smallholder farmers—who often own less than two hectares of land—accessing "Silicon Valley" level technology is usually impossible. Krishi Mangal acts as a de-risking mechanism, providing the funding and field-testing "sandboxes" necessary for startups to prove their tech works in real-world, rugged rural conditions.
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