Rohit Kanse’s unique initiative: Technology-based agri startup “Match Making Platform for Wood” is giving business benefits to farmers

Rohit Kanse has established an innovative agri startup by combining agriculture and afforestation with modern technology, which aims to increase the income of farmers and make them self-reliant. Rohit, a resident of Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, has created a unique “Match Making Platform for Wood” by combining his entrepreneurship and environmentally sensitive approach. This platform makes the commercial use of trees grown especially on the edges of farmers’ fields easy and transparent.

Tree farming and additional income of farmers

Rohit told that his startup helps farmers to earn additional income through tree farming. His model is already running successfully in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. He advises farmers to plant trees on their barren or boundary and also do intercropping of main crops. Such a scheme not only ensures maximum use of farmers’ land but also strengthens their financial condition. Additionally, it provides farmers with resilience to climate change, prevents soil erosion, and promotes biodiversity. Tree farming, especially when combined with agricultural crops, also helps conserve water.

Technological innovation and farmer welfare

The biggest feature of the startup is its technological initiative. Rohit has developed a digital platform that allows farmers to accurately evaluate their trees. Through a special calculator, farmers can enter the girth of their trees and know the amount of wood and its estimated price. This protects farmers from financial losses from contractors as they can make better deals by knowing the market prices directly. This platform not only helps farmers get the right price but also provides them transparency in post-harvest logistics and payment process. Rohit believes that this technology can also prove to be a big boon for small and marginal farmers, who often do not get the right price for their produce due to traditional methods.

E-Marketplace and Price Transparency

The platform also includes an e-marketplace that helps farmers get a fair price for their timber. The platform offers location-based pricing, allowing farmers to know what price their timber can fetch at the nearest timber mill or factory. The system instantly displays rates from potential buyers near the farmer using their pin code or location. This feature frees farmers from relying on traditional middlemen and contractors who often do not pay farmers a fair price for their produce.

Additionally, the platform emphasizes on making the entire transaction transparent. This includes services such as the process of felling trees, arranging for the transportation of timber, and direct payments into farmers’ accounts. All the services required for felling and transportation in the process have been digitally integrated so that the farmer does not have to deal with different agencies.

Rohit has ensured that all transactions are secure and quick in this initiative. To ensure that there is no delay in payment to farmers, the entire system is connected to an automated and secure payment gateway. Also, with the help of a special calculator developed for tree valuation, farmers can easily know the price they can get for their wood by entering the circumference of the trees. Thus, this platform empowers the economic interests of farmers through transparency and fair pricing and gives them access to a more profitable market.

Along with this, through this technology, farmers also get information about the global wood market, which helps them even more in understanding the price of their product. 

Growing importance of agro-forestry

Rohit has designed his model from the point of view of environmental conservation, in which he has made agro-forestry an important aspect. Planting trees along with farming in an agro-forestry system not only increases the fertility of the land, but it also reduces the effects of climate change. Trees prevent soil erosion and maintain water balance, giving farmers more stability in farming. Apart from this, trees help in reducing carbon footprint by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can reduce the effects of global warming.

Rohit, citing a United Nations report, said that promoting wood-based building materials can have many benefits to the environment. For example, using wood instead of traditional building materials such as concrete and steel can reduce carbon emissions drastically. Wood products preserve carbon for a long time, making it a carbon-shrinking material. This approach not only encourages sustainability but also creates a new source of income for farmers.

Rohit also explained that under this model, tree felling is done in a planned and systematic manner, so that there is no negative impact on the environment. According to him, tree harvest should be seen as an agricultural product, which can be harvested and replanted in time. This approach makes land use completely effective, and farmers receive income from trees every five to ten years, which is in addition to their traditional crop income.

He also explained that the growing international demand for wood-based building materials, especially in Europe and the US, is a golden opportunity for Indian farmers. This can not only be economically beneficial but will also help in establishing India as a leading sustainable material supplier.

Future plans and global expansion

According to Rohit, his startup holds immense potential not only in the Indian market but also globally. He aims to connect more and more farmers in India with his model and empower them digitally. According to him, wood-based buildings are being promoted in countries like Europe and Australia, which benefits the environment. Rohit wants that through his startup, the farmers of India can also be a part of this green initiative.

Government schemes and support

Rohit has also approached the central and state governments to promote his startup. He mentioned several government schemes and agricultural subsidies that provide financial assistance to agriculture-based startups. However, he says that more government support is still needed so that innovative startups like his can reach farmers more effectively.

This innovative startup of Rohit Kanse is an example of how the use of technology in the agricultural sector can create new possibilities and opportunities for farmers.