Cisco and Social Alpha have joined forces to announce the launch of the second cohort of Krishi Mangal, a program aimed at accelerating innovations for small-scale farmers

Cisco and Social Alpha have revealed the selection of startup cohorts for the second iteration of Krishi Mangal, an accelerator program designed to support Agritech companies focusing on solutions for small-scale farmers. The first edition of Krishi Mangal, launched in 2021, had a significant impact, benefiting over 17,000 farmers and leading to the creation of more than 200 jobs. It also facilitated the growth of over 500 micro-entrepreneurs and the onboarding of nearly 25 Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs). The program was successfully implemented in several states, including Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

In the second edition of the program in FY23, seven revenue-generating startups with a significant impact on agriculture and related livelihoods will receive a comprehensive 18-month market access and scale-up accelerator program. These selected startups will focus on expanding technologies for soil rejuvenation, efficient water and crop management, and effective post-harvest management. Each startup will receive financial grants, pilot opportunities, market entry support, fundraising guidance, technology refinement, and mentorship from industry experts. By combining Social Alpha’s innovation curation expertise with Cisco’s technological capabilities, these startups will implement scalable climate-resilient technologies that enhance income opportunities.

Himanshu Mishra, Director – Livelihoods & Prosperity, Social Alpha, emphasized the challenges faced by small and marginal farmers in India, including intergenerational poverty, poor soil quality, water resource scarcity, limited access to credit, high input costs, post-harvest losses, and broken value chains. He also highlighted the additional risks posed by regional climate changes.

Harish Krishnan, Managing Director & Chief Policy Officer, Cisco India, expressed Cisco’s commitment to empowering small and marginal farmers through Agri-tech startups. He noted that Krishi Mangal aligns with Cisco’s mission of leveraging technology to create an inclusive future for all. The program identifies and provides a platform for promising Agri-tech startups to refine their products, enhance their value propositions, strengthen their capabilities, adapt their solutions to local contexts, and scale their organizations.

Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director at Atal Innovation Mission, stressed the importance of promoting inclusive innovations that align with sustainable development goals. Programs like Krishi Mangal play a crucial role in creating widespread impact for small and marginal farmers through sustainable businesses. To achieve this, alliances between various parts of the ecosystem, including incubators, governments, investors, and more, are essential, with the government acting as a catalyst in the process.