146.8 million hectares, around 30% of the soil in India is degraded. Of this, 29% is lost to the sea, 61% is relocated, and 10% settles in reservoirs.
India uses 89% of its freshwater for agriculture, yet only 49% of the cropped area is irrigated, leaving the rest vulnerable to erratic monsoon rains.
With agricultural labour projected to drop to 25.7% by 2050, boosting India’s 40-45% mechanisation rate can raise productivity by 30% and cut costs by 20%.
OVERVIEW
Agriculture, the world’s oldest and most vital sector, remains the backbone of livelihoods for 58% of the global population. In India, where agriculture dominates the economy and supports over half the population, the sector still relies heavily on traditional practices. Despite being the second-largest producer of agricultural products, India’s agricultural contribution to the GDP is just 17-18%. The sector lags due to many reasons, such as inadequate technological infrastructure, lack of financial support, and deficiency in digital knowledge and awareness of the latest developments in the sector. All these challenges are compounded by one central issue: the fragmented nature of landholdings in India. 86.2% of the country’s farmers are classified as small and marginal. These farmers collectively own 47.3% of the total operated land, yet their average farm size is just 2 acres.
Techtonic: Innovations for Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods aims to curate innovative technologies that positively impact smallholder farmers. The program is scouting for innovators and entrepreneurs with transformative technologies that address a curated set of challenges faced by farmers.
Focus Areas
Over the past decade, the sub-standard quality of seeds and the excessive use of agrochemicals have adversely impacted crop productivity and triggered drug resistance in insects and pathogens. This, in turn, has led to reduced crop yields and increased cost of cultivation, squeezing farm incomes and causing distress amongst the farmers.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Precision farming technologies that provide hyperlocal weather forecasts and real-time crop health monitoring, helping reduce crop losses, boost yields, and lower production costs.
- Biotechnology/nanotechnology-based high-quality and climate-resilient inputs such as pesticides, herbicides, weedicides, growth promoters, new seed varieties, etc., to replace traditional practices.
Soil and water are critical components of agriculture, but across India, soil degradation and water stress are crippling crop yields. Misuse of chemical inputs has damaged soil health, reducing organic exchange between soil and crops. At the same time, inefficient water management and a growing groundwater crisis leads to lower yields, water shortages, and rising irrigation costs, pushing farmers to the brink.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Soil health diagnostic tools that offer reliable, on-field, cost-effective advisories for synthetic, organic, natural, and integrated practices tailored for specific crops.
- Soil health management through bio inputs or rejuvenation products with compounds that directly improve productivity.
- Water source management innovations that augment artificial aquifer recharge, groundwater mapping and management, and help with monitoring water resources across the entire value chain from source to end use.
- On-farm water use management tools such as integrated data management technologies that leverage IoT and analytics for improved and affordable irrigation automation and water delivery or micro irrigation systems that map water use to crop requirements.
- Solar-based pumping technologies with sufficient water discharge for small farmlands.
Mechanisation is critical for performing farm operations on time, reducing cost and drudgery, and improving the quantity and quality of the produce. However, most machinery is expensive, has limited functionality and is usually unsuitable for smallholder farmers.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Small farm machinery or tools suitable for operations on 0.5-5-acre land size for land preparation, input application, inter-cultivation, plant protection, harvesting, etc., with a focus on reducing drudgery and improving efficiency for small land parcels.
- Gender-neutral, easy-to-use machinery that is affordable and can help increase the incomes of small farmers.
- Renewable energy-powered solutions that reduce operational costs and emissions.
Smallholder farmers often face unfair market conditions for perishable produce, forcing them into distress sales.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Affordable food preservation solutions that increase shelf-life by a week (short-term storage) to avoid stress selling and maximise the selling price for farmers.
- Micro energy efficient, hybrid storage units (1-2Mt capacity sections) that can store diverse commodities at different temperatures and can be used for pre-cooling and ripening.
- Decentralised, off-grid processing and value-addition solutions that create new markets for farmer collectives or FPOs, with assured market access and financial support.
In India, around 75% of the milk is produced by smallholder farmers with a herd size of 2-5. Nearly 80 million of these farmers rely on dairy farming for their livelihoods. However, they struggle to reap the full potential of dairying due to several challenges, including limited awareness of best practices, inadequate access to quality veterinary healthcare, a shortage of feed and fodder, and inefficient implementation of breed management.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Animal health and disease management for early detection and improved early-stage management of critical diseases through innovative diagnostics devices or processes.
- Animal feed and fodder management for improved animal nutrition, high productivity feed formulation, and better feed conversion efficiency.
- Artificial reproduction technologies that address the issue of repeat breeding to increase milk production.
Non-timber forest products (NTFP) contribute 30-35% of the income for forest-dwelling communities, with some areas in Northeast India seeing reliance soar to over 90%. However, exploitation by market forces, shrinking forest cover, and restricted access to the forest, are driving down economic returns and increasing the hardship faced by these communities.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Deep tech solutions such as blockchain-based technology for traceability, surveillance solutions to augment satellite monitoring such as AI/ML-based cameras, bioacoustics surveillance or ground truthing solutions.
- Resilient seed varieties that leverage biotech for improved plant varieties and disease control.
- A value-added solution for forest gate processing, decentralised production/processing, preservation and value addition, and incentives linked to sustainable harvesting to create incentives for collecting biomasses.
India generates close to 500 million metric tons of agricultural waste per year, much of it is burnt adding more CO2 emissions in the Indo-Gangetic plains. In addition, with a livestock population of 535.78 million - including 200 million dairy cows and 105 million buffalos - India also produces vast amounts of animal waste, further adding to the challenge of managing farm byproducts.
Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):
- Disruptive biotechnology and input materials such as inoculums and enzymes that can enhance the digestion process and yield better outputs.
- Innovation in purification and upgradation of biogas into biomethane, which improves its usability in transportation and industrial applications and energy-efficient compression techniques. We are also looking for solutions that can digest multiple feedstocks simultaneously, considering the huge and intermittent availability of some key feedstocks, such as agriculture residues.
- Slurry management and market linkage technologies for advancements in slurry processing through filtration and chemical conversion technologies and solutions that make it easier for farmers to find, buy, and use organic fertilisers.
Who Should Apply
Innovators and start-ups with innovative technology-based solutions that have the potential to create a sustainable and scalable impact in the lives of smallholder farmers of India. We are considering innovations at the following stages:
- Product Development Stage: The technology is being integrated, tested, and validated in controlled and field settings
- Pilot Stage: The technology has demonstrated technical performance and is ready for testing early product-market fit, use cases, and ROI demonstration
- Deployment Ready Stage: The technology has demonstrated early market evidence, use cases, and ROI, which can be scaled up based on market evidence
Program Offerings
Important Dates
-
Launch of Application
6th November 2024
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Application Deadline
10th December 2024
-
Evaluation of Applications
11th – 30th December 2024
-
Jury Round
15th January 2025
-
Winner Announcement
15th – 31st January 2025
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Pilot Implementation
February Onwards
Strategic Partners
Outreach Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
To know more about the Techtonic, we request you to go through the FAQs section:
Eligibility:
1. Who can apply for the program?
Techtonic: Innovations for Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods is a search for innovators and entrepreneurs with transformative technologies that address a curated set of challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Individuals, groups of individuals, and start-ups registered in India are eligible to apply for the program.
2. In which category am I eligible to apply?
Applicants are requested to select the most appropriate category based on their product development stage. Please select the category carefully since the application forms will have some unique questions.
3. Is there any preference for an innovation?
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for technology-based innovations that focus on solving challenges faced by smallholder farmers across the country. The innovation may be a product, platform or service, but must be aligned to the focus areas outlined in the program. There is a preference for technology-based innovations that have a high social impact potential.
4. I am a college student working on a technology. Can I apply for the program?
Yes, you may apply if your technology satisfies the problem statements. Please note that finalists of the Techtonic: Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods will be required to participate in evaluation sessions where they will have to present to the jury. This may require the virtual/physical attendance at the convening location and may interfere with college schedules.
5. Can I submit more than one application for different technologies?
No, one enterprise is applicable for only one application; however, the applicant might be addressing different challenges so they can select multiple problem statements as per their focus area.
6. How many applications will be selected?
There is no limitation to the maximum size of the cohort. However, applications satisfying the focus areas of Techtonic: Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods will be selected as the final cohort after a detailed evaluation. These applications may be across the product development, pilot or scale-up stage category.
7. What is the duration of the engagement?
The engagement is typically 12-24 months long. However, it will vary from case to case based on the needs of the start-up or innovation. Promising start-ups in the product development stage will also have the opportunity to receive support with their pilots upon successful completion of milestones. Hence, they may continue to receive support for a longer duration.
8. What are the different types of benefits I can avail?
The cohort will receive access to an incubation program covering one or more of the following, depending on the needs assessment conducted by Social Alpha.
- Sandbox facility to test, validate and pilot innovations or projects on the ground in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, etc.
- Access to seed investment from Social Alpha or its syndicate
- Product development support, including assistance with designing, rapid prototyping, and design for manufacturing
- Dedicated agri-business experts to assist with business planning, developing go-to-market strategy, and overall business advisory
- Mentorship by a set of qualified global and local experts and access to a curated set of capacity-building sessions
- Practical on-the-ground feedback from the farmer communities, grassroots non-profits, agriculture experts, and corporate and government bodies
- Access to shared office space and amenities at Social Alpha and support services such as accounting, compliance, taxation, legal, IP, etc.
9. Do I have to be physically present for any cohort-based sessions? Is attendance necessary?
The cohort will be required to attend the orientation launchpad. There may also be a need to participate physically in other sessions during the program. The start-ups/innovators will also be required to attend relevant workshops, events, and demo days during the incubation period physically or virtually depending upon the need. Unless there is a pre-communicated genuine and unavoidable reason for absence, start-up/innovator missing most of the program will not only lose the actual benefits of their selection but may also be reconsidered for continued support from the program.
10. How frequently will Social Alpha interface with the cohort during the program?
There will be regular interface between the start-up/innovator and the Social Alpha team. Each start-up will be allocated a portfolio manager to help with customised requests, who will engage with the start-ups continually and regularly.
11. What kind of funding support can I avail through the program?
Decided on a case-to-case basis, eligible incubated start-ups will get access to a catalytic fund for pilot implementation in other geographies. Eligible start-ups in the program may also be considered for follow-on funding, subject to successful due diligence and investment committee approval.
Selection Process
12. What are the important dates to remember during the selection process? When will the results be announced?
| Event | Date |
| Launch of Application | 6th November |
| Application Deadline | 10th December |
| Evaluation of Applications | 11th – 30th December |
| Jury Round | 15th January 2025 |
| Winner Announcement | 15th – 31st January 2025 |
| Pilot implementation | January onwards |
13. Can I submit my application after the deadline?
No, applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be evaluated.
Terms and Conditions
Please read the following terms and conditions before submitting your entry:
- Eligibility
- Participating or proposed ventures should be independent entities, meaning that they should not be a subsidiary of an existing corporation or have legal ties to a government body.
- Existing non-profits can participate; however, they should propose a venturing idea or a plan to transform their existing solutions into a more sustainable solution.
- As the program is looking for start-ups to work on establishing marketing channels for existing products and not research, only those with developed ideas and/or prototypes should apply.
- The applicant should be a registered company /willing to be registered in India. The shareholding by Indian promoters in the company should be at least 51%.
- Submissions and Participation
- Submissions which are incomplete will be deemed void and disqualified from the program evaluations.
- Submissions should be the original work of the participant/participating entity, should demonstrate positive social or environmental impact, and should have a disruptive technology innovation with the potential to be sustainable and scalable in India (though not exclusively in the region).
- Participants who are determined to be ‘Finalists’ and ranked in the final evaluation stage might be required to send at least one core member for the final round of evaluations.
- Winners agree to the use of their names, photographs, and the disclosure of their country of residence; and are required to cooperate with any other reasonable requests by the organiser relating to any publicity-related activities.
- Winners are required to submit a declaration of good standing and solvency at the final stage of evaluation. If there is any change in circumstance that invalidates their good standing and solvency, the team is to immediately inform the organisers.
- All participants own the rights to their ideas. Participants must properly acknowledge any trademarks, patented or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the submission materials. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission before utilising such materials in their submissions.
- Submitted ideas are protected in the spirit of non-disclosure, and all submitted materials will be treated as company confidential. The only people with access to the entry materials will be evaluators/judges, partners and select members of the organising committee. Materials will not be distributed to any other party unless requested by a participant. No other provisions are made to protect intellectual property.
- Participants are advised not to disclose critical information that would affect the successful filing of patent(s). All presentations are open to the general public, and some presentations may be videotaped. Attendance by media personnel is expected in the final stages of the program. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by participants should be considered information that will likely enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged or presented in these sessions.
- Decisions regarding the winners
- The selection of the ‘Winners’ is at the sole discretion of the judges and the organisers from Social Alpha and partnering organisations. Best efforts will be made to make decisions in accordance with this document.
- Throughout all phases of the Techtonic, all decisions of the judges are final.
- Disqualification and Organiser’s Right to Amend Competition Rules
- The organisers of the program reserve the right to disqualify any participant who is found to have violated the spirit of the application guidelines and terms and conditions stated herein. Disqualified participants shall forfeit all prizes awarded to them.
- The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules at any point before the Closing Date of the applications in line with the overall goal of the Techtonic.
- The indicated dates for the applications may be revised at any point of time by the organisers. Any change in schedule will be suitably intimated on the applications webpage and on other relevant platforms.
For any assistance needed in filling the application form, please reach out to us at
agritech@socialalpha.org