Sandeepa Kanitkar, Chair, BASAI and Managing Director of Kan Biosys, visited Krishi Jagran's office in New Delhi on September 24, 2025. During her address at KJ Chaupal, she emphasized the importance of soil health, youth-driven innovation, and scalable biological solutions to transform Indian agriculture.
During her address, Kanitkar encouraged the youth to keep alive their spirit of change and believe in their ability to make an impact, no matter the size. She shared that she began her entrepreneurial journey at 22 with a vision to bring scientific innovation to agriculture- a sector often seen as simple but filled with complex challenges. Emphasizing that true innovation comes from necessity and determination, she highlighted the critical role of soil health.
Kanitkar explained that much agricultural degradation results from neglecting soil microbes, which are vital for plant nutrition. Drawing a parallel to human health, she noted that just as curd supports gut microbes, healthy soil microbes reduce farmers’ reliance on fertilizers, lowering costs and promoting sustainability. She also emphasized patience and persistence in agricultural innovation, sharing that it took over 10 years to develop and commercialize Kan Biosys’s first product. Today, the company boasts a cutting-edge microbial data bank, a strong R&D team, and exports to countries including Australia, the USA, EU nations, Africa, and Nepal.
Despite global recognition, including United Nations awards, Kanitkar said true satisfaction came when Indian farmers began using their technologies. She acknowledged that distribution and scalability remain challenges, and for innovation to succeed, it must reach farmers across sectors- from grapes to spices. Speaking about BASAI, the industry-led alliance she chairs, she noted that 52 companies have united to co-develop sustainable solutions like biofertilizers, biopesticides, and residue-free inputs, aiming to meet India’s growing demand while creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurship.
Commending Krishi Jagran for its efforts in farmer education, Kanitkar expressed confidence that the sustainability movement in Indian agriculture will accelerate rapidly, with biological inputs expected to account for 40% of usage soon. She highlighted that a real evolution is underway in the sector, and India is well poised not only to produce inputs for its farmers but also for global markets. With the growing focus on the ‘China Plus One’ policy, India is set to become a viable and strong manufacturing hub for biologicals.
The insightful session concluded with a group photograph, capturing a memorable moment of collaboration and shared commitment to the prosperous future of agriculture.
