Kanuj Kachhawaha hails from Sri Ganganagar, a fertile district in northern Rajasthan known for its extensive canal-based irrigation and agricultural productivity. However, unlike many from his region, Kanuj’s life trajectory veered far from the fields. With a strong academic background and technical acumen, he carved out a successful career in the IT sector. Today, he works as a Senior Technical Architect at HCLTech in Bangalore, specializing in cloud architecture with over 17 years of experience under his belt.
While he has spent nearly two decades immersed in technology and enterprise solutions, something began to shift in his perspective. Living in an urban setting, Kanuj started questioning the sustainability of food systems and the health impact of chemically grown produce. This growing consciousness gradually led him to develop an interest in agriculture, not just as a consumer of food, but as someone eager to understand and contribute to its production and distribution.
A Complete Beginner with a Learner’s Mindset
Kanuj is candid about his lack of farming experience. “I have no agricultural background, not in my family, not in my upbringing,” he admits. And yet, this hasn’t deterred him. On the contrary, his curiosity and commitment to learn have motivated him to seek knowledge from those already in the field. To this end, he has registered for the Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN), a platform that brings together farmers, policy makers, scientists, agri-startups, and industrial stakeholders.
For Kanuj, GFBN is not just an event; it is an opportunity to meet people from all over India who are deeply involved in agriculture, From natural and zero-budget farming practitioners to agri-marketing experts and agri-tech innovators. “I'm attending these sessions to understand real-world practices, challenges, and possibilities. I want to know what kind of farming people are doing, is it chemical-based, natural, or something hybrid? And most importantly, is it economically viable for someone like me to step in?”
Tech-Agriculture Bridge: Vision for the Future
Kanuj’s IT background gives him a unique lens to view agriculture, not just as soil and crops, but as a sector ripe for technological intervention. He believes that the digital revolution that transformed industries like banking and retail can and should be brought to Indian farms as well.
“Today, everything in IT is moving toward automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Why not in agriculture?” he asks. He envisions scalable solutions that can automate labor-intensive tasks like irrigation and crop monitoring, especially for large landholdings where manual intervention becomes impractical.
At the same time, he is mindful of the realities on the ground. “Cost is a critical factor. Whatever we develop for agriculture must be affordable to the common farmer. It should not be so expensive that only a few big players can adopt it.” He suggests that community-driven solutions such as cooperative digital platforms or shared infrastructure for irrigation, machinery, and marketing could offer a more inclusive model.
Marketing and Minimum Support Price: A Core Concern
Beyond the act of growing food, Kanuj is equally concerned about what happens after the harvest. The question of market access and fair pricing is one that he believes requires urgent attention. “The biggest worry for most farmers is not growing the crop, it’s selling it at the right price. That’s where most of them suffer losses.”
He feels that initiatives like GFBN can play a transformative role by connecting farmers with marketplaces, ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP), and reducing the role of intermediaries. Digital platforms that list demand, track prices, and even provide buyer-seller matchmaking could potentially revolutionize this segment.
Learning Before Leading
At this point in his journey, Kanuj is more focused on learning than launching. He does not yet have a concrete business plan or application in the works, but his direction is clear. “I’m still in the exploration phase. I want to observe, interact, and absorb ideas from people who are doing it, whether they’re small-scale farmers or big innovators.”
He draws great inspiration from the work of Dr. Raja Ram Tripathi, a pioneer in Indian agriculture, and Mr. Akash Chaurasia, a renowned progressive farmer from Madhya Pradesh. “It will be truly enriching to share space and learn from such remarkable individuals,” he shares.
A Quiet Start to a Green Dream
For Kanuj Kachhawaha, this is just the beginning of what could be a significant personal and professional transformation. From building complex IT architectures to eventually nurturing agricultural ecosystems, he is open to change and is preparing for it with sincerity and vision.
He may not yet own a plot of land or a farming tool, but what he does carry is the spirit of innovation, the humility to learn, and the desire to make agriculture not only sustainable but also smart and scalable. In the years to come, voices like Kanuj’s rooted in tech but inspired by nature could be key to ushering in a new era of Indian agriculture.
Note: Global Farmer Business Network (GFBN) is a dynamic platform where agricultural professionals—farmer entrepreneurs, innovators, buyers, investors, and policymakers - converge to share knowledge, experiences, and scale their businesses. Powered by Krishi Jagran, GFBN facilitates meaningful connections and collaborative learning opportunities that drive agricultural innovation and sustainable development through shared expertise. Join GFBN today: https://millionairefarmer.in/gfbn
