Top 10 Agriculture Startups in India Driving Innovation and Sustainability

India’s agriculture sector is vast but under-optimized. The country is the world’s largest producer of milk, jute and pulses, and among the top producers of rice, wheat, sugarcane and fruits. Yet farming contributes only about 18% of GDP, even as ~46% of the population works on farms.

This gap has spurred an agriculture startups in India revolution: engineers and entrepreneurs are using AI, IoT and data analytics to help farmers grow more with less. Investment is pouring in – agritech deals jumped ~28% in 2024 vs 2023, and agri startups in India have raised over $2.4 billion since 2014.

In the sections below, we explore how sustainable agriculture startups in India – from precision-farming platforms to digital marketplaces – are transforming farming, supported by new agriculture startup ideas in India, government schemes, and venture-building expertise like GrowthJockey’s AI-driven model.

Why Agriculture Startups in India Matter

Modern agritech is reshaping traditional farming. With climate risks rising (India is classified as “water-stressed” and 90% of water goes to irrigation), agri startups are deploying technology to conserve resources and boost yield. Precision sensors and AI let a startup like Fasal tell a farmer exactly when to irrigate, which has saved roughly 3 billion litres of water on 10,000 acres of crops.

Meanwhile, digital platforms connect farmers to markets: apps like AgroStar and BigHaat provide local-language advice and high-quality inputs via mobile, already reaching millions of smallholders. As one survey notes, agri-innovations are driving India’s fourth (tech) revolution in farming. The overall agritech market is projected to exceed $24 billion by 2025, reflecting huge opportunity for efficiency and sustainability.

Here are some key trends and opportunities in India’s agri-tech ecosystem:

• Precision Agriculture: IoT solutions, drones and AI optimize water, fertilizer and pesticide use. Tools can map soil moisture or detect crop disease early (e.g., Fasal’s smart irrigation). This area is a major focus for agriculture startup in India.

• Mobile Marketplaces: Online platforms (B2C and B2B) link farmers directly to input suppliers or buyers. For example, apps let farmers order seeds or sell vegetables without middlemen.

• Supply Chain & Logistics: Solutions like cold storage, farm-to-retail networks and apps (e.g., Ninjacart, Ergos) reduce post-harvest losses and waste by up to 20–30%. These solutions align with agriculture startup schemes and funding opportunities.

• Farm Management Software: Data-driven SaaS tools (like CropIn) provide real-time farm monitoring, weather forecasts, and yield analytics to improve decision-making.

• Sustainable Inputs & Bio-solutions: Startups are developing natural fertilizers, biopesticides, and organic food products to cut chemical use and promote eco-friendly farming.

• Agri-Fintech & Advisory: Digital lending, insurance, and AI-based crop advisories are helping farmers access credit and expert guidance tailored to their fields and risks, forming part of agriculture startup funding in India.

For example, Fasal’s IoT sensors alerted farmers to over‑irrigation and helped optimize watering – saving an estimated 3 billion litres of irrigation water across its deployments. Similarly, platforms like AgroStar and BigHaat have brought millions of small farmers online: AgroStar’s voice-enabled app serves over 5 million farmers with inputs and advice, while BigHaat claims >4 million user sign-ups.

These innovations demonstrate how agri startups in India combine productivity gains with sustainability. By tapping data and smart tech, startups can help India’s farmers grow more food with fewer resources – a win for incomes, the environment, and the growth of farming startups in India.

Several homegrown startups are at the forefront of this change. Notable examples include:

Top 10 Agriculture Startups in India

AgroStar

Founded: 2013 | Founders: Shardul Sheth, Sitanshu Sheth | Location: Pune, Maharashtra

Overview: AgroStar is a pioneering digital platform designed to empower farmers across India with access to quality agricultural inputs, expert advisory, and a marketplace for agri-products. Its mobile application and helpline serve millions of farmers in over 10 states, offering guidance on crop protection, seeds, fertilizers, and farm practices.

Key Offerings:

• Input Marketplace: Farmers can purchase certified seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides directly.

• Advisory Services: Personalized crop advice based on soil type, crop, and regional climate.

• Technology Integration: AI-powered recommendation system ensures optimal crop management.

Impact: AgroStar has helped farmers increase crop yield by 20–30% while reducing costs by eliminating unnecessary purchases and improving decision-making through expert guidance.

DeHaat

Founded: 2012 | Founders: Shashank Kumar, Shyam Sundar Singh, Amrendra Singh, Abhishek Dokania, Adarsh Srivastava | Location: Gurgaon, Haryana

Overview: DeHaat provides an end-to-end digital ecosystem for small and marginal farmers. It connects them to high-quality agricultural inputs, crop advisory, financial services, and market linkages, enabling them to access premium buyers without intermediaries.

Key Offerings:

• Input Supply: Seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products delivered to farmers’ doorstep.

• Agri Advisory: AI-driven recommendations for crop planning, pest control, and irrigation.

• Market Access: Aggregates produce from thousands of farmers, connecting them to wholesalers and retail chains.

Impact: By integrating technology and supply chain optimisation, DeHaat has improved crop productivity by up to 25% and significantly reduced post-harvest losses.

Ninjacart

Founded: 2015 | Founders: Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Ashutosh Vikram, Kartik Jayaram, Shashank Kumar | Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Overview: Ninjacart is a B2B platform transforming India’s fresh produce supply chain. It directly connects farmers with retailers, restaurants, and wholesalers, bypassing middlemen and ensuring timely payments to farmers.

Key Offerings:

• Farm-to-Business Supply Chain: Ensures faster delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Data-Driven Operations: AI optimizes route planning and inventory management to minimize waste.

• Farmer Support: Guarantees fair pricing and transparent transactions.

Impact: Ninjacart reduces post-harvest losses by over 15% and delivers more than 60 tons of produce daily within 12 hours, enhancing freshness and profitability.

Fasal

Founded: 2018 | Founder: Ananda Verma | Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Overview: Fasal offers a precision farming platform utilizing IoT sensors, AI, and predictive analytics to provide real-time insights on crop health, soil moisture, and weather conditions. Its solutions help farmers optimize irrigation schedules, reduce chemical usage, and improve yield.

Key Offerings:

• IoT-Enabled Sensors: Monitor soil and crop conditions continuously.

• AI Predictions: Forecast pest attacks, irrigation needs, and disease risk.

• Decision Support: Helps farmers take actionable steps for better yield and sustainable practices.

Impact: Farmers using Fasal can reduce water usage by up to 30% and minimize pesticide application, promoting environmentally friendly agriculture.

AgNext Technologies

Founded: 2016 | Founders: Anirban Dey, Saransh Goila | Location: Chandigarh, India

Overview: AgNext leverages AI and machine learning to digitize quality assessment of agricultural produce. Its solutions standardize grading and sorting processes, ensuring only high-quality products reach markets and export channels.

Key Offerings:

• AI-Based Grading: Automatically evaluates grains, fruits, and vegetables for quality.

• Digital Traceability: Tracks products from farm to buyer.

• Enhanced Transparency: Reduces disputes and improves trust in the supply chain.

Impact: AgNext’s technology ensures better pricing for farmers while reducing operational inefficiencies for traders and buyers.

Gold Farm

Founded: 2012 | Founders: Abhilash Thirupathy, Karthic Ravindranath | Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Overview: Gold Farm focuses on sustainable and mechanized farming solutions. Its solar-powered irrigation systems and mechanized tools help reduce energy consumption while increasing productivity. The startup promotes low-energy and climate-resilient farming practices.

Key Offerings:

• Solar-Powered Irrigation: Minimizes dependence on conventional electricity and fuels.

• Mechanized Tools: Increases operational efficiency in planting, harvesting, and maintenance.

• Training & Support: Guides farmers in adopting sustainable practices.

Impact: Gold Farm supports small and medium farmers in reducing operational costs and energy consumption while increasing crop output.

FreshToHome

Founded: 2015 | Founder: Shan Kadavil | Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Overview: FreshToHome is an online platform delivering fresh, chemical-free meat, seafood, and poultry directly from farms to consumers. By maintaining cold chain efficiency and ensuring traceability, the company promotes responsible sourcing and reduces food wastage.

Key Offerings:

• Farm-to-Consumer Delivery: Ensures freshness and chemical-free products.

• Cold Chain Logistics: Maintains quality and shelf life.

• Traceability & Transparency: Lets consumers track product origin and farm practices.

Impact: FreshToHome enables sustainable consumption in urban India and supports farmers who adhere to chemical-free farming methods.

Eeki Foods

Founded: 2016 | Founders: Girish Bharadwaj, Hemant Gharpure | Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Overview: Eeki Foods specializes in indoor vertical farming using hydroponics and automated systems. This approach reduces water consumption by up to 90% and allows year-round crop production, independent of climate conditions.

Key Offerings:

• Hydroponic Farming: Soil-free, water-efficient crop production.

• Automation & Sensors: Optimizes lighting, temperature, and nutrient supply.

• Sustainable Practices: Reduces land use and environmental footprint.

Impact: Eeki Foods provides high-quality, pesticide-free vegetables while addressing water scarcity and land limitations.

BOHECO (Bombay Hemp Company)

Founded: 2013 | Founder: Shubha Mittal | Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Overview: BOHECO is India’s leading industrial hemp company, cultivating and processing hemp to create sustainable products for textiles, wellness, and construction. It supports eco-friendly alternatives to conventional crops and synthetic materials.

Key Offerings:

• Hemp Cultivation & Research: Focus on high-yield, sustainable farming.

• Product Development: Uses hemp for textiles, paper, and wellness products.

• Education & Advocacy: Promotes awareness of hemp as a sustainable crop.

Impact: BOHECO contributes to circular economy initiatives and encourages sustainable industrial practices.

SfarmsIndia

Founded: 2015 | Founder: Pravin Kumar Shinde | Location: Delhi, India

Overview: SfarmsIndia is a digital platform connecting farmers with quality agri-input suppliers and buyers. It helps farmers increase productivity, reduce input costs, and access better market opportunities.

Key Offerings:

• Digital Marketplace: Access to seeds, fertilizers, and other farm inputs.

• Advisory Services: Provides crop management and market insights.

• Market Linkages: Connects farmers with reliable buyers and traders.

Impact: SfarmsIndia improves income stability for small farmers by providing technology-enabled access to markets and inputs.

Agriculture Startup Ideas and Emerging Innovations in India

The agriculture sector in India is evolving rapidly, with technology-driven solutions opening multiple avenues for innovation. Entrepreneurs can target unmet needs across the value chain; from farm inputs and advisory to logistics, post-harvest management, and consumer delivery. Successful startups combine digital tools with real-world solutions to increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve farmer incomes.

Some of the most promising and emerging areas for agritech ventures include:

• Controlled-Environment and Vertical Farming: Indoor farming, hydroponics, and climate-controlled greenhouses allow year-round cultivation while using up to 80% less water. Startups like Eeki Foods are leading in this space.

• Circular AgriTech: Converting farm waste into value-added products such as compost, bioenergy, or materials. For example, ventures like Farmtheory collect crop residues to create nutrient-rich compost, improving soil health and reducing environmental impact.

• AI and Data-Driven Farm Analytics: Advanced AI platforms analyze satellite or drone imagery to identify pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, or yield predictions, helping farmers make informed decisions.

• Agri-Fintech Solutions: Platforms providing loans, crop insurance, and financial planning tools, including models where stored produce acts as collateral, help farmers access liquidity and manage risks.

• Supply Chain Traceability: IoT and blockchain-based systems ensure provenance of produce from farm to market, improving transparency, reducing waste, and enabling premium pricing for verified quality.

• Alternative Proteins and Novel Foods: Startups exploring plant-based, cultured, or lab-grown foods diversify agricultural outputs while lowering environmental impact of traditional meat production.

• Drone and Robotics Applications: Unmanned aerial systems for spraying, seeding, or monitoring crops, and farm robots for tasks such as weeding, reduce labor dependency and improve efficiency.

• Digital Advisory via Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants in local languages expand access to expert advice, even for remote farmers with limited internet access.

By targeting these areas, entrepreneurs can create impactful, scalable, and sustainable solutions that address India’s agricultural challenges while opening new business opportunities.

Government Schemes and Support

The Indian government has launched several programs to boost agritech and farm innovation. Key initiatives include:

• RKVY-RAFTAAR (Innovation & Agri-Entrepreneurship): Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, this scheme offers grants up to ₹5 lakh at the idea stage and ₹25 lakh at seed stage to agri-startups. It also provides incubation support through Agri-Business Incubators (ABIs) across India. This helps early-stage agri innovators pilot their products and business models.

• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): A ₹2 lakh crore low-cost financing scheme for building farm-linked infrastructure (cold storage, warehouses, agri-logistics). Startups or FPOs can get 3–5% interest subvention on loans for up to 7 years, encouraging investment in the supply chain.

• Startup India (Agritech vertical): While not exclusive to farming, the Startup India initiative offers tax exemptions, easier compliance and startup grants that agritech ventures can leverage.

• Other Support Schemes: Programs like PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Soil Health Card schemes improve the overall agri-ecosystem, indirectly benefiting tech adoption. State governments and industry bodies also run hackathons, grants and industry-mission funds for agritech R&D.

For instance, a 2024 government report notes that 1,708 agri-startups have already been assisted under RKVY, with ₹122.5 crore disbursed to incubators and entrepreneurs. The Union Budget 2023–24 even announced an Agri Accelerator Fund of ₹300 crore over three years to further scale innovative agri-tech companies.

In practice, a startup might apply for these grants via recognized incubators or knowledge partners; when chosen, they receive funding, mentorship, and exposure at national agri-fairs. These programs greatly reduce the risk for new ventures, making it easier to experiment with sustainable agriculture startup ideas in India.

GrowthJockey: AI-Driven Venture Architecture for Agritech

GrowthJockey’s role in the agritech landscape is to act as a venture architect for startups. This means we help founders validate, build and scale their ideas with an integrated, technology-led approach. Specifically, GrowthJockey teams take end-to-end ownership of the startup’s journey – from initial concept testing through to launch and growth.

We use AI and data analytics at every stage: for example, our platform can quickly scan market data to identify promising crop segments or unmet farmer needs (an application of “AI-driven data analytics” in market research).

In practical terms, GrowthJockey- Full stack Venture builder might help an agri-startup run rapid pilots (validating demand for a new seed product), build a minimal viable product (say, an automated soil-sensing device), and set up the go-to-market playbook. We even assist in designing partnerships (with banks for farm loans or supermarkets for supply) and accessing funding. In short, we combine deep agricultural insight with our AI-powered startup framework so that tech-enabled farming solutions can scale sustainably.

FAQs

Q1. What counts as an agriculture startup?
Agriculture startups use technology to improve farming and food supply, including digital marketplaces, IoT sensors, AI advisory apps, precision equipment, bio-inputs, and farm fintech. In India, they help small and medium farmers adopt efficient, data-driven practices to boost yield and income.

Q2. How do agriculture startups promote sustainability?
Startups optimize resource use and reduce waste through precision irrigation, bio-fertilizers, cold storage, smart supply chains, and AI forecasting. These solutions save water, reduce chemical runoff, cut spoilage, and enable more eco-friendly farming.

Q3. Which government programs support agriculture startups?
Schemes like RKVY-RAFTAAR, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Startup India, and state programs provide grants, low-interest loans, mentorship, tax breaks, and incubation. Entrepreneurs can apply via incubators or official startup portals.

Q4. What role does AI play in agriculture?
AI and data help predict weather, pests, and crop needs, enable precision irrigation, detect diseases via drones or sensors, and optimize supply chains. Platforms like CropIn use AI to guide farmers on seed choice, irrigation, and input management.