Agrotech India has developed an analytical software platform called Crop Loss Assessment Support System (CLASS) that can help study crop yield or loss using remote sensing technology and drones, which can then be analysed by "millions of algorithms."
According to Akhilesh Jain, Co-founder of Agrotech India, these algorithms will analyze data from remote sensing technology, primarily satellites and drones, to calibrate yield and crop loss. As a result, growers may be able to claim Agri insurance in the event of crop loss. "In fact, using CLASS will help settle crop loss claims in seven days as opposed to the current 45 days," said Jain.
Delayed Settlement
The startup, which launched in 2019, examined the Prime Minister's Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY) closely because it was based on crop yield. "The yield was manually measured when the crop was cut." The farmers' insurance scheme took a long time to settle, which made growers unhappy," said the co-founder of Agrotech, which is backed by Trinity Group (India) and East European firm Ctrl2Go LLC.
Farmers were growing dissatisfied with the length of time it took to settle their claims, so Agrotech conducted a pilot project in Uttar Pradesh and presented it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
In fact, the Centre asked 12-13 firms to carry out the first crop loss and yield pilot project. "We were chosen based on the pilot we conducted in five villages," he explained.
The list was then whittled down to 6-7 firms, who were then asked to conduct another pilot in additional villages. Agrotech took on the project in 50 districts as part of this. "Following that, we carried out the second pilot project in 50 districts, 25 during the Kharif season and the rest during the rabi season." "Our technology was examined and validated," Jain explained.
These 50 districts are spread across Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Assessment of Crop
"We have the most sophisticated technology to monitor crop development, though it is new to the country," he said, adding that farmers could benefit greatly from the government, banks, and insurance companies.
While Agrotech has approached several companies, including FMCGs, to provide its technology platform, the State Bank of India has already begun to use it. "Our technology will assist banks in digitally assessing crops and providing loans to growers by verifying yields," Jain said.
Agrotech has also released a free farm advisory services app for farmers. The app gives farmers advice on crop health, what crop to grow, what pests or diseases threaten the crop, fertilizer use, and weather forecast. "By the end of 2020-21, 10,000 farmers had downloaded the app." "By the end of this fiscal year, we expect to have onboarded one million growers," he said.
Farmers' income has also increased as a result of the advisory service. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, a farmer who had grown paddy for the previous ten years was asked to grow jackfruit on a portion of his land. "As a result, the farmer's income increased 1.5 times in one season," said the Agrotech co-founder.
Management of Water Resources
Agrotech is also involved in water resource management, restoring and revitalizing water bodies across the country. "At one time, we had 800,000 water bodies, but 70% of them are now dead." "The Centre is doing a lot to revitalize these bodies, and we're doing our part by bringing in cutting-edge technology," Jain explained.
The technology is based on filtration and is also affected by the water in the drainage system. The startup has begun work on a project to treat the wastewater from the Brij Vihar drain in Ghaziabad. "The drainage has not been cleaned in many years, and as a result, during the monsoon, water overflows and enters residences." "We're revitalizing the drainage in two stages," he explained.
The sewage is mechanically cleaned in the first phase to desilt and remove sludge. The next step is filtration, which reduces the biochemical and chemical oxygen demand levels in the sewage.
"We have finished rejuvenating two kilometres of 12 kilometres of sewage, which now resembles a canal." "The local civic body has been supportive as well, with Ghaziabad Commissioner Mahendra Singh Tanwar at the helm," Jain said. Agrotech employs 700 developers and engineers, has 47 in-house solutions, and holds 38 patents.
