Vishal Vijay Neve’s Inspiring Initiative: Farmer Empowerment through Agri Startup

Vishal Vijay Neve, a young farmer from Pachora village in Jalgaon district, is running an inspiring agri startup whose main aim is to strengthen the economic condition of farmers. He has started a Farmer Producer Company (FPC) which works to free farmers’ produce from middlemen and help them earn better profits. His vision is to ensure that farmers get maximum benefit from their produce and are free from any kind of debt. Vishal has claimed that if farmers work with the FPC for five years, they will not need to take loans throughout their life.

Outstanding Projects and Schemes

Vishal has started a major project for the construction of a seed processing unit and equipment bank under the Hon’ble Balasaheb Thackeray Grameen Parivartan Yojana (SMART Yojana) under the Atmanirbhar Krishi Producer Company. The project costs around Rs 1.42 crore, and the construction work on it is currently underway at a rapid pace. He aims to create a pilot project for Jalgaon district, wherein basic amenities will be provided to farmers at a 30% discount. Through this scheme, he wants to not only provide better agricultural services to farmers but also involve them as investors in industries.

Innovation in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Plan

Vishal’s vision is not limited to just selling agricultural products. He is implementing various schemes to bring innovation in agriculture. For example, his company provides modern seed processing facilities to farmers. Apart from this, he is also committed to training farmers and making them aware of the latest agricultural technology. All this brings alive his spirit of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, where he is working towards making farmers self-reliant.

Benefiting from Government Schemes

Vishal has availed several government schemes for his startup. He said that under the SMART scheme, his company has received the necessary support to set up a seed processing unit and equipment bank. However, he believes that more government support is still needed in many areas. According to him, if the government and banks provide more funding and facilities in his project, then farmers can get a big benefit.

Future plans and prospects

Vishal wants to create a comprehensive pilot project for Jalgaon district in the future, in which farmers will not only be producers but will also become investors in industries. His goal is to eliminate the brokerage going on in the private market and provide more profits directly to the farmers. For this, he is expecting more support from the government and banking sector.

Honors and recognition

Vishal’s work has been honored with the “Khandesh of the Year” award by Marathi channel Saptarang. This award was given to him by Marathi actress Bhargavi Chirmule. This honor is a symbol of his hard work and innovative approach, which gave him an identity in the agricultural startup sector.

This initiative of Vishal Vijay Neve is an inspiration for other farmers. His aim is not only to improve his financial condition but also to benefit the entire farmer community. If their plans are successful, it can make a big contribution in making the farmers of the region self-reliant.

Agriculture Startups in India: History and Future

The rise of agriculture startups in India has been rapid in the last decade, and this change is a big step towards combining traditional agriculture with modern technology and business approach.

India is an agricultural country, and the history of agriculture here is thousands of years old. However, major changes came in the agriculture sector after the Green Revolution. This revolution was mainly based on the use of advanced seeds and chemical fertilizers, which led to a boom in food grain production. But over time, the need for changes in traditional farming methods was felt.

In the 2010s, when tech startups gained momentum in India, agriculture startups also started emerging. These startups started providing farmers with the latest technology, such as drones, soil monitoring sensors, digital marketing platforms, and better agricultural advisory services. Initiatives like “Startup India” and “Digital India” of the Government of India also played an important role in promoting startups in the agriculture sector.

Today, agriculture startups are operating across the country and they are providing a variety of services to farmers. These include services like drip irrigation, organic farming solutions, smart agricultural equipment, and online marketplaces for farmers. Many startups like Ninjacart, DeHaat, Agrostar, and CropIn have provided farmers with better markets and technical support for their products.

There is immense potential for agriculture startups in the future. Due to climate change and increasing food demand, there is a need for sustainable solutions in the agriculture sector. Agriculture startups are working towards making farming more accurate and effective using technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), data analytics, and machine learning. Apart from this, the growing trend of hydroponics, vertical farming, and organic food is also opening up new opportunities in this field. 

The government is also trying to boost the sector by coming up with agriculture infrastructure funds, crop insurance schemes, and other agri-tech initiatives to provide funding and other resources to agri startups.