India's fastest growing agritech startup | agrimarketplace

Climate tech in agriculture has emerged as a transformative force in India, offering innovative solutions to mitigate the risks of agriculture and climate change. With India being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate variability, the agricultural sector, which employs nearly 50% of the population and contributes around 18% to the GDP, has faced significant challenges. Erratic monsoons, prolonged droughts, unseasonal rains, and rising temperatures have threatened food security and farmer livelihoods. However, integrating advanced climate change solutions for farming has begun to revolutionise the sector, enabling farmers to adapt, reduce losses, and improve productivity.

The global climate tech market size was valued at USD 20.43 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 25.32 billion in 2024 to USD 149.27 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 24.8%. 

Fact: North America dominated the global market with a share of 36.76% in 2023.

Climate Tech: A Lifeline for Indian Farmers

Sustainable agriculture technologies have become increasingly accessible to Indian farmers thanks to government initiatives, private sector investments, and partnerships with global organisations. Among these, agribazaar has played a pivotal role as a leading agritech platform in bridging the gap between technology and farmers. By leveraging climate-smart agriculture technologies like GIS, satellite imagery, and remote sensing, agribazaar has empowered farmers to build climate resilience in agriculture and adopt agricultural risk mitigation technologies.

One of the most significant advancements has been adopting precision farming and climate change strategies. Several precision farming techniques, such as soil sensors, drones, and satellite imagery, have been integrated into Indian farms that provide real-time data on soil health, moisture levels, and crop conditions, allowing farmers to optimise irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control. agribazaar has adopted such technologies to estimate crop yield & acreage, monitor crop health, and identify crop types suitable to soil health.

Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems

Accurate weather forecasting has been another critical area of progress. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has leveraged AI for agriculture climate adaptation to enhance its forecasting capabilities. IMD’s Mausam App and WhatsApp-based weather alerts have reached millions of farmers, providing localised, real-time weather updates. These systems have proven invaluable in helping farmers plan sowing and harvesting activities, reducing the risk of crop damage due to unseasonal rains or droughts. On the same lines, agribazaar incorporates weather and climate data to help farmers with better decision-making and actionable insights.

Drought-Resistant Crops and Sustainable Practices

Developing and adopting drought-resistant and climate-resilient crop varieties have also gained momentum. Organisations like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and private seed companies have introduced high-yielding, stress-tolerant rice varieties, wheat, and pulses. 
Many agritech companies have supported this transition by connecting farmers and FPOs with suppliers of high-quality seeds and providing guidance on sustainable crop production technologies. Additionally, methods such as zero-budget natural farming (ZBNF) and conservation agriculture are promoted, emphasising soil health, water conservation, and reduced chemical use.

Data-Driven Decision-Making Platforms

The rise of agri-tech platforms like agribazaar has further accelerated the adoption of agricultural technology for climate risks. By leveraging IoT in climate-smart farming and big data, agribazaar provides farmers with actionable insights into crop management, market trends, and climate risks. agribazaar’s ML-based tool, Agribhumi, uses satellite imagery and weather data to predict pest outbreaks and recommend preventive measures.

Government Initiatives and Policy Support

The Indian government has been pivotal in promoting climate change adaptation in agriculture through initiatives like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Subsidies for solar pumps, micro-irrigation systems, and weather-based insurance schemes have also encouraged farmers to embrace green technologies for farming.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Small and marginal farmers, who constitute over 85% of India’s farming community, often lack access to advanced technologies due to high costs and limited digital literacy. Bridging this gap requires targeted interventions, such as subsidised technology packages and capacity-building programs. 
Moreover, the scalability of climate tech depends on robust infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity and power supply. While rural internet penetration in India has improved, reaching over 55% of total internet users, further investments are needed to ensure seamless access to digital tools.

Conclusion

Climate tech in agriculture is significantly mitigating risks in Indian farming and agriculture, enhancing resilience and productivity. From precision farming and climate change to water management technologies in agriculture and carbon footprint reduction in agriculture, these innovations have empowered farmers to navigate the challenges of climate change. Platforms like ours have played a crucial role in democratising access to these technologies, ensuring that even small and marginal farmers can benefit.

However, sustained efforts are needed to ensure equitable access and scalability. With continued innovation and policy support, climate-smart agriculture technologies can pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future for Indian agriculture.

By integrating renewable energy in agriculture, promoting carbon sequestration in agriculture, and leveraging digital farming solutions for climate resilience, India is well on its way to achieving agricultural sustainability and climate change goals. As we look towards agriculture in 2025 climate predictions, adopting agri-tech innovations for climate resilience and crop management for climate risks will be critical in ensuring food security and farmer livelihoods in the face of a changing climate.