Cisco India CSR and Social Alpha unveiled Krishi Mangal 3.0 on Wednesday, selecting seven agritech startups deploying artificial intelligence and IoT solutions to boost farmer productivity and address climate challenges in Indian agriculture.

Krishi Mangal 3.0, the third edition of the accelerator program, provides up to Rs 50 lakh ($60,000) in non-dilutive funding per startup, with potential access to additional funding of up to Rs 2 crore through Social Alpha’s network.

The program focuses on climate resilience and income security for farmers through technology-driven solutions.

Selected startups will deploy their innovations across multiple states, potentially reaching over 200,000 farmers and 150 farmer producer organizations.

Krishi Mangal 3.0 targets critical agricultural challenges including soil degradation, water management, farm mechanization, post-harvest losses and supply chain inefficiencies.

“This initiative is not just about agricultural innovation; it is a direct contribution to the vision of Viksit Bharat,” said Harish Krishnan, managing director and chief policy officer at Cisco India & ASEAN, referring to India’s development goals.

“By empowering our farmers with cutting-edge technology, we are boosting rural incomes, fostering economic resilience, and ensuring food security.”

The seven startups represent diverse technological approaches to agricultural challenges. Ekosight Technologies operates Soil Doctor Clinic, providing AI-powered soil testing that analyzes 16 parameters with over 95% accuracy, generating instant digital reports and tracking crop health through satellite imagery.

ArkaShine Innovations offers AI-enabled portable devices assessing physical, chemical and biological soil properties, delivering fertilizer and crop recommendations tailored to soil health and microclimatic conditions through an integrated digital dashboard.

Terracroft Agritech developed KrishiBOT, a battery-operated farm robot designed for gender-neutral operation that reduces physical strain for women and elderly farmers while supporting line sowing and intercropping with minimal soil compaction.

Surobhi Agro Industries‘ Farmology platform combines patented organic inputs with AI-powered agronomy, integrating IoT-based soil testing and crop health monitoring with 95% accuracy to help farmers make timely decisions on water, pest and nutrient management.

Agribotic Systems built a 90% indigenous agricultural drone ecosystem with compact, foldable units enabling affordable precision farming through real-time spraying, obstacle avoidance and IoT-based fleet management.

Bhairaj Organics developed Desigo, a milk supply chain solution using alternative energy to eliminate cold storage needs and middlemen, ensuring zero spoilage with FSSAI-compliant traceability while empowering women entrepreneurs.

Rudra Solar Energy offers high-efficiency solar cabinet dryers that reduce post-harvest losses and improve product quality, with direct market linkages providing farmers fair prices and increased income.

“Smallholder farmers are navigating a complex web of systemic issues—from erratic monsoons and degrading soil health to rising input costs, limited infrastructure, and shrinking access to credit,” said Ganesh Neelam, co-founder of Social Alpha, India’s venture development platform for science and technology startups.

Previous Krishi Mangal editions have demonstrated significant impact. The first edition supported five startups deploying solutions in seven states, directly impacting over 17,000 farmers and collectively raising Rs 34.8 crore in follow-on funding. The second edition enabled seven startups to deploy in six states, benefiting more than 32,000 farmers and achieving a cumulative 14.9% increase in farmer incomes.

India climbed to 39th position in the Global Innovation Index in 2024 from 81st in 2015, according to Deepak Bagla, mission director at Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. “The growth of the nation is tied to the growth of agriculture, the primary sector in India,” Bagla stated.

Agriculture remains a critical economic sector in India, employing nearly half the country’s workforce and serving as the foundation for rural livelihoods across the nation.

Startups in Krishi Mangal 3.0 also receive tailored business planning support and access to Social Alpha Labs for product design, prototyping and manufacturing assistance, along with potential seed investment opportunities subject to due diligence.