Providing a one-stop point for solution to farmer problems
LUCKNOW : From managing the Port of Algoma in Canada’s Ontario region, as its chief executive officer, and spearheading corporate houses, Lucknow’s Anshumali Dwivedi returned to the motherland to launch an agri start-up to help farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s hinterland.
Dwivedi – an Economics graduate from Delhi University and MBA from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi – launched the Krishika Kisaan Mart; an agri-retail start-up, a mobile application aptly named Krishika e-mart and a farmer helpline.
Silicon India, a publication focusing on start-ups, has ranked Sacred River Agri Technologies Pvt Ltd (the parent company managing the affairs of the Krishika Kisaan Mart) in its top 10 list of agri start-ups in India.
After relocating to India in 2019, Dwivedi launched the company in May 2020. In this short span, the company has provided training and employment to 60 agriculture experts.
Fighting against all odds during the pandemic, Dwivedi’s venture made steady progress in the last one year. Starting with four centres, one each in Kursi (Barabanki), Bhelsar (Ayodhya) and two in Sitapur’s Dewai Nizampur and Kesariganj regions, Krishika Kisaan Mart now has 18 centres across the state. Recently, centres have come up in Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Basti too. Each centre has three agriexperts who are BSc in Agriculture. These centres serve as onestop solution centres for all problems of local farmers.
“Krishika Kisaan Mart addresses all queries of farmers related to farming. Whether it is related to crop management, soil testing, pest-management, cattle, weather and seeds or anything else,” said Dwivedi.
“We are giving farmers free guidance on farming and farm inputs. We are helping them bring down costs (of farming), increase farm productivity, income and adopt sustainable agricultural practices,” he pointed out, adding, “The centres also sell agri-products like seeds, pesticides, fertiliser and other agri-equipment at nominal rates.”
A six-member corporate cum agriculture team sits in the Lucknow office which includes agriculture experts, business analyst and data analyst. The agri experts hold a PhD degree in agriculture. “From the Krishika Kisaan Mart’s office in Lucknow these experts address all queries of farmers which they receive on the helpline number,” said Dwivedi.
“I sit in the Noida office. But a couple of weeks in a month I am in the Lucknow office or visiting centres,” he said.
In the last six months, more than 6,000 farmers have contacted the Krishika Kisaan Mart and have availed its services, Dwivedi said. To localise its presence, the Krishika Kisaan Mart has appointed 35 ‘Kisaan Saarathi’ across the state.
“In villages, literacy level is low. Everyone cannot operate a mobile application. So, we have appointed 35 Kisaan Saarathis. All hold a BSc in Agriculture. Recently, a three-day online training programme was organised for them,” said Dwivedi.
The Kisaan Saarathis use the Krishika Kisaan e-mart app to collect orders from farmers. The app is also used to collect data relating to problems of farmers, crops and other requirements of farmers.
Farmer education programmes, expansion in north and central India, launching own agri-brands, providing satellite imagery solutions and creating an artificial intelligencebased platform, are among some of the future plans of the company.