India's Best Agriculture Solution Providers 2021

Agriculture Tomorrow Dynamics of Indian Agriculture Sector Post Covid-19: Future Scenario

Mr. Sachin Gangal

VOL . 05 | ISSUE 01 | 2021

Agro Supply Insights on ImportExport of Indigenous Agro Products: Current Scenario

Mrs. Anita Sachin Gangal

India's Best

Agriculture

Solution Providers | 2021

Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Protecting Every Single Food Grain from Infestation

Editor’s Note T

echnology, today, is all-pervasive. It has practically percolated into every segment, micro or macro, ensuring ease of business, quality of service and is timesaving.

SMART SOLUTIONS FOR IMPROVING AGRICULTURE PRACTICES

The backbone of India’s economy, agriculture, and its allied sectors, too could not be left behind for long. Modern methods of farming - right from sowing seeds to harvesting, storing, and transporting, have now become imperative to increase production and safety of crops.

Agriculture and its allied sectors are the livelihood of nearly sixty percent of India’s population and the largest contributor to the economy of the country.

When Indian farmers were not introduced to agriculture solutions and technology, essential crops faced the threat of pollution, pests and insects, rodents, harmful chemical fertilizers, pesticides. India produces agriculture yield in huge quantities, but it lacked the infrastructure for storage which compromised both quality and quantity of crops.

While some farmers tried to find solutions to keep the crops safe and retain the quality, these were short term solutions.

With the advent of technology into agriculture and its allied sectors, various solutions to different kinds of problems came up. This helped to nip the problem off the bud and many entrepreneurs came into picture to do the onus.

Hygienic conditions, good quality seeds, sowing in appropriate places, green fertilizers, clean and proper storage of crops, particularly grains, are crucial for healthy

Sumita Sarkar Editor-in-Chief

sumita@insightssuccess.com

agriculture ecosystem. Soil testing, data management, Internet of Things (IoT), weather analysis and prediction have successfully eliminated many issues.

Access to clean reliable energy – solar energy for irrigation, food dryers, storage have also helped a lot in sustainable farming.

IoT includes sensors, drones, robots connected through internet gathering data for efficiency. Drone images particularly, have helped in quality control, disease detection, sorting, and grading the yield by mapping and surveying farms.

Satellite imagery is used to scan different areas of the farm to detect affected regions early, implement the necessary solutions and save costs.

With the new generation flocking to the cities for work and the resultant shortage of farm labourers, Agribots are attracting the attention of many farmers. This technology is yet to pick up pace but nevertheless is a good solution for shortage of manpower.

On the other hand, many educated farmers are open to implementing all the latest solutions and modern technology to boost agriculture.

Digital technology solutions have become pertinent for sustainable growth in farming, logistics management and warehousing services to improve efficiency, minimize

losses and ensure proper market management.

Leading agriculture solution providers are giving their best so that there is increased productivity and crops are safe and protected.

We at, Insights Success, bring you some of the best agriculture service providers who have come up with innovative, cost effective agriculture solutions for the farmers.

Dive into this edition titled, India’s Best Agriculture Solution Providers, 2021, to learn more about how their services and products have positively impacted the agriculture sector.

Have a nice read!

20 Arya Collateral Warehousing Services Pvt Ltd.

26 eKutir Developing Data-Driven, Networked Technologies

Integrating the Agricultural Value Chain

CXO

24 32 RAW Pressery Enabling an Experience Filled with the Goodness of Mother Nature

16

Agro Supply

Insights on Import-Export of Indigenous Agro Products: Current Scenario

Technology in Production The Uses of Technology across the Value Chain of the Dry Fruit & Nut Production Process

Articles

30

Agriculture Tomorrow

Dynamics of Indian Agriculture Sector Post Covid-19: Future Scenario

Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Protecting Every Single Food Grain from Infestation

08

Contents

COVER STORY

Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar Managing Editor Darshan Parmar

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Assisting Editor Ananda Kamal Das

MAY, 2021

Contributing Writer Ashish Chandgude

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Company Name

Management

Brief

Arya Collateral Warehousing Services (P) Ltd

Mr.Anand Chandra Executive Director

Arya provides post-harvest services across the agricultural value chain, including warehousing, warehouse receipt financing, rural storage discovery, collateral management and market linkages.

eKutir

Mr. Krishna Mishra Mr. Suvankar Mishra Group Chairman and Founder, Executive Director

eKutir is India's first certified B Corp. Ever since its inception in 2009, its goal has been to extend novel, technology-driven opportunities to people at the “bottom of the pyramid,” and to enable impoverished communities to develop sustainably.

RAW Pressery

Mr. Anuj Rakyan Founder and Managing Director

RAW Pressery was born in Anuj’s kitchen with a Norwalk cold-press juicer splattering carrots all over the ceiling.

Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt Ltd

Mr. Sachin Gangal and Mrs. Anita Sachin Gangal Directors

Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt Ltd., creates Hermetic Bags, named as Save Grain Bags.

Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Protecting Every Single Food Grain from Infestation

We wish to create and nurture an India where only happiness and good health would thrive

Mrs. Anita Sachin Gangal

COVER STORY

Mr. Sachin Gangal

A

griculture is not just the livelihood of nearly sixty percent of India’s population and the largest contributor of the Indian economy, but it is also recognized as the global powerhouse of agriculture. These are reasons enough to prioritize crop safety and focus on agricultural production.

India is a land of agriculture – be it farming or its allied sectors, and it is a major source of the country’s essential food crops. Agriculture also provides employment to over half of the workforce of the nation. It contributes towards the steady economy of India.

However, various factors such as pollution, pests and insects, and the usage harmful chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other such ingredients, badly affect essential crops and grains. These crops are incurring severe damages, while slowing down agricultural production.

In order to tackle such serious issues, leading agriculture solution providers are stepping up to deliver the best solutions. They are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that there is increased agricultural productivity and also that the crops are safe and protected.

One such leading agriculture solution provider is Save Grain Advanced Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The company is dedicated towards informing and educating farmers about the latest technologies and to ensure their availability at a reasonable cost. It also provides its services to the homemakers of India, who have set out on a business journey. This mission is to assist them in the clean and proper storage of grains.

India's Best Agriculture Solution Providers | 2021

How it all Began Save Grain Bags started off its journey in the year 2015-16. “The very idea of our company although, had taken root in our minds quite a longtime ago”, states team Save Grain Bags. The company’s aim was to provide a complete and clear solution to all the problems commonly experienced in the agricultural sector. Knowing that agriculture is the primary sector of the country’s economy and the largest occupation of Indians, the company took up the onus of ensuring safety of the crops.

The company is of the opinion that while our country produces agriculture yield in great quantities, it immensely lacks the proper infrastructure for storage. According to statistics, almost 55% to 60% of the yearly produce of maximum farmers is compromised by qualitative or quantitative damage.

This problem continues even in the 21st century when technology is progressing rapidly.

The most important of issues begin right after the harvest of crops is completed and the storage process begins. Accordingly, Team Save Grain Bags came together to uproot this problem from its very core. It all started by participating in every big and small agricultural exhibition to promote advanced storage technology. The team visited different villages in different parts of the country to promote and explain the need of this storage technology.

Inspiring Leadership Save Grain Bags marches towards excellence under the dedicated

stewardship of Mr. Sachin Gangal and Mrs. Anita Sachin Gangal.

They are the key management personnel who are responsible for the tremendous success of the company.

With the fervent leadership of Mr. Sachin and Mrs. Anita, the company is gradually overcoming numerous obstacles and achieving new milestones in delivering efficient agricultural solutions.

Their idea of developing this very technology was with the motive of

not letting the wastage of food grains happen in India. The idea started with experimenting with the storage capacity, the needs of the society. It included trials, visiting different locations and approaching farmers to convince them about the use of this technology which they started off with. Later, slowly this very small plant grew into a robust tree with more people joining and promoting the storage idea.

without any loss to pests, and without the usage of pesticides. It produces bags which are weather resistant, recyclable and plastic ban compatible.

The company’s notable contributions towards the environment, the society, and the economy have been mentioned below: Environmental: 1. The company reduces carbon footprint by cultivating less land.

2. It reduces pollution and transportation to the warehouse.

3. The company employs organic storage facilities and does not use any chemical. Ÿ

Embracing Quality-First Approach

Noteworthy Achievements

The company delivers its wide variety of services to clientele ranging from farmers – the main cultivators of food crops, the organic cultivators, agriculture-related companies, and homemakers. The demand from each section is different. Some prefer bulk storage, while the demand by few is seasonal, whereas the demand from homemakers is of small quantities only for their household needs.

The company has achieved numerous accolades throughout its quest for delivering excellent agricultural solutions. For the year 2020-21 it has received the Economic Times Archery award under the category: Excellence in packaging - Food.

Hence, Save Grain Bags offers a wide variety in sizes to cater the needs of this diverse clientele. The sizes of the bags and pouches have been designed and manufactured after studying the needs.

The bags and pouches manufactured by the company undergo thorough quality test. Each batch of production is tested and samples from every batch are sent for quality assurance.

Furthermore, Save Grain Bags has received certification for its bags from Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology. Its bags are currently being tested and certified by Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology.

Significant Contributions Save Grain Bags is a storage solution based on hermetic technology that allows clients to store a wide range of agricultural produce and household products for a longer duration

Social: 1. It increases the health index of soil and consumers 2. The company ensures that there is no distress sale for farmers.

3. It provides various options which help farmers to earn more money. Ÿ

Economical: 1. The company employs its own scientific storage and in turn, reduces storage cost. Ÿ

support or help farmers distributed these bags to the latter free of cost.

Owing to the pandemic, the company’s sales increased to almost 60-70% as compared to last financial year.

Scaling the Future

2. The company employs techniques to ensure that there is no wastage of crops and grains, and the farmers receive more to sell.

3. The prime objective of the company is to make sure that there is availability of more food for the poor.

Tackling Every Challenge with Confidence Save Grain Bags faced tremendous challenges towards its journey of achieving prominence. The team states that the traditional farmers are not very open to new development and technology. They are the ones who suffer the maximum losses. The company had to take on the stiff task of convincing them in adopting the technology and giving them an idea as to how beneficial this is for them.

Overcoming the Pandemic Efficiently Similar to many other companies and industries, Save Grain Bags also had to face numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it tackled every challenge positively and reaped better results. During the pandemic, the company’s sales

increased as demand for packaging material increased from all types of consumers such as farmers, households, industries, and exporters.

Panic buying was prevalent among many household consumers, which led to increased sales. Farmers wanted to store their hard-earned harvest safely during lockdown without any infestation and majority of exporters or stockiest stored the grains in their warehouses.

Save Grain Bags also got orders from government institutions to distribute the bags to farmers. Also, many NGOs and similar institutes who

Marching ahead, Save Grain Bags plans to develop different variants in hermetic bags and pouches which can be suitable for different applications and different food commodities. It is also approaching different state governments to incorporate these bags in farming kit for the benefit of farmers.

The company has planned aggressive digital promotional activities during harvesting season. Team Save Grain Bags intends to make sure that not even a single food grain in the world is lost because of infestation.

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INSIGHTS on Import-Export of

INDIGENOUS Products

Agro A

mid the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Import and Export of a lot of products has gotten hampered. But essential products and services such as food and agro products are still being imported and exported. The agrarian culture of India, as well as its diverse regional environment, have made a major contribution to the global food basket.

According to the government of India, “India’s Foreign Trade i.e. Exports and Imports are regulated by Foreign Trade Policy notified by Central government in exercise of powers conferred by section 5 of foreign trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992. As per FTD & R act, export is defined as an act of taking out of India any goods by land, sea or air and with proper transaction of money.”

Indian curries, spices, snacks, and mangoes are renowned around the world for their high quality. India is the global leader in the export of the following food categories: Marine Products: There are a lot of Marine products like frozen shrimp being exported, which accounts for 44% of all seafood exports

Current Scenario

from India, continues to be the most common commodity.

Other items exported from the country include frozen fish, squid, and cuttlefish.

India is the world's largest shrimp exporter to the United States and the world's second-largest aquaculture producer.

Buffalo Meat: In fiscal year 2020, India exported buffalo meat worth about three billion dollars. Despite the decrease from the previous year, the south Asian nation was still one of the world's largest exporters of beef (which includes buffalo meat).

Basmati Rice: India is known around the world for its rice production, as it is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of the grain. Because of its high demand and superior quality, basmati rice exports have been especially important and profitable for Indian farmers.

Spices: Given their exquisite fragrance, texture, taste, and medicinal value, Indian spices are now the most sought-after globally.

India's domestic spice market is the world's biggest. In India,

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Agro Supply

17 | May 2021 | www.insightssuccess.in

spices have traditionally been grown on small plots of land, with organic farming gaining popularity in recent years.

India is the world's largest spice manufacturer, consumer, and exporter, producing 75 of the 109 varieties listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and accounting for half of global spice trade.

Cotton: India is one of the world's largest cotton manufacturers, buyers, and exporters. According to the Ministry of Textiles, the commodity supports the livelihoods of an estimated 5.8 million cotton farmers and 40-50 million people involved in related activities such as cotton processing and trade.

Sugar: Sugar mills have shipped 2.49 million tonnes of the sweetener so far in the current marketing year, which ends in September, with the majority of shipments going to Indonesia, according to trade group AISTA. With just five months before the end of the 2020-21 marketing year, the association believes the mills will be able to meet their export commitments.

Coffee: India is the world's third-largest coffee producer and exporter. Italy, Germany, and Russia are among the most important markets. Apart from instant coffee, India exports both Robusta and Arabica varieties. During the year, India exported 77,770 tonnes to Italy, 41,064 tonnes to Germany, and 29,531 tonnes to Russia out of its total exports.

Cashew: Cashew was first introduced to India in Goa, from where it spread throughout the region. It was first used in soil binding to prevent erosion. Commercial cultivation began in the early 1960s, and over time, cashew developed into a high-value crop that became an export-oriented commodity, bringing in significant foreign exchange for the nation.

Fresh Vegetables: The diverse climate of India ensures the availability of a wide range of vegetables. After China, it is the world's second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables. According to the National Horticulture Board's National Horticulture Database, India produced 90.2 million metric tonnes of fruits and 169.1 million metric tonnes of vegetables in 2015-16.

Fruit cultivation accounted for 6.3 million hectares, while vegetable cultivation accounted for 10.1 million hectares.

tea processing units, continuous innovation, augmented product mix, and strategic market expansion, Indian tea is among the best in the world. The Northeast (including Assam) and north Bengal are the major tea-growing regions (Darjeeling district and the Dooars region). Tea is also grown extensively in the Nilgiris region of south India. India is one of the world's largest tea consumers, consuming roughly three-quarters of the country's total production.

Castor Oil: India, as the world's largest producer and exporter of castor oil, accounts for nearly 83.65% of total global exports in this category. China, Europe, Thailand, and Japan are its major trading partners in this market. Due to its demand for sebacic acid (a simple industrial chemical compound), which is produced from castor oil, China has been one of the biggest growth drivers for this oil.

Tobacco Unmanufactured: The thick, full-bodied flavour and smoothness of Indian tobacco, which was introduced by the Portuguese in the 17th century, is appreciated around the world. It is now a wellknown and valued product in global tobacco markets, and it has made its way into cigarettes produced in a number of countries. In the global tobacco industry, India has an impressive and progressive profile, and it is an important player.

Groundnut: As per APEDA report, India has exported total 189736 MT of groundnut with the value of Rs. 1512 crore during April to October (2019-2020) which is lower by 23.70% against 248679 MT of groundnut with the value of Rs. 1644 crore during April to October (2018-2019).

Fresh Fruits: The diverse climate of India ensures the availability of a wide range of fresh fruits. After China, it is the world's second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables. According to the National Horticulture Board's National Horticulture Database, India produced 90.2 million metric tonnes of fruits and 169.1 million metric tonnes of vegetables in 2015-16.

There are several agricultural products that are also imported to India, they are: Vegetable Oils, Pulses, Fresh Fruits, Cashew, Spices, Sugar, Alcoholic Beverages, Raw Cotton (which includes waste), Misc Processed Items, Cocoa Products, Wheat, Coffee, Fruits / Vegetable Seeds, Marine Products, Cereal Preparations etc.

Tea: Due to clear geographical indications, heavy investment in

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Ashish Chandgude

Collateral Warehousing Services Pvt Ltd. Integrating the Agricultural Value Chain

L

ogistics management in the agricultural industry is the process that ensures the optimal and continuous flow of agro-goods from manufacturers/suppliers to producers and, eventually, to consumers. It is crucial that the activities in this process are effectively managed to guarantee the customers’ demands are met on time and the maximum value of the cultivated products is achieved.

Moreover, it is essential to minimize distribution expenses, improve the circulation of agricultural goods, reduce unnecessary losses, and strive for an environment-friendly and compliant logistics. Arya Collateral Warehousing Services Pvt Ltd. is one such agricultural warehousing and logistics platform that offers farmers, FPOs and other participants, a bouquet of post-harvest services like primary aggregation, storage, financing and market linkage through a network of digitized warehousing solutions.

Until 2013, Arya was part of the JM Baxi Group. That year, Prasanna Rao and Anand Chandra acquired a controlling

stake in the company. Prasanna had previously served as the Head of Agri Commodity Finance at ICICI Bank, while Anand was previously ICICI Bank’s National Product Head for Agri Commodity Finance. More recently, they were joined by Chattanathan D, the former Group Product Head of the Rural and Inclusive Banking Group at ICICI Bank.

The team successfully turned around the company and today Arya is already India’s largest player in the agri-warehousing space with the largest NBFC book (Warehouse Receipt Finance) and highest ROE on account of its asset light tech based profitable model. They currently reach about 350,000 farmers in 21 states, directly or through one of 450 FPOs, manage $1 billion worth of commodities in their warehouses and provide or facilitate $350 million worth of financing.

In an interview with Insights Success, Anand Chandra shares about the journey of Arya, various challenges it faced, its achievements, and future plans.

Tell us about your company’s operations, its mission, its vision, and its core values.

We aim to maximise the value of each grain of the Indian farmer. For this, Arya offers an integrated post-harvest service model, called the agChain through its digital platform to address distributed value chains. Arya’s model aims to mitigate the key challenges posed by the currently low density of storage and service providers close to the farmgate. Arya has been able to successfully help smallholder farmers realize better value for their produce through village level commodity storage, integrated financing and market linkage services to create better options for commodity sales.

How is your company catering differently to its clientele, to stand apart from competition in the agriculture solution providers space? What safety, hygiene and

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India's Best Agriculture Solution Providers | 2021

quality-assurance standards does your company abide by to inspire the trust of its clients?

Digitization of stored produce is at the crux of Arya’s approach. In this model, produce entering the warehouse is quality checked and each stack of grains is given a unique identification. This translates to a ‘digital balance’ on Arya’s app interface that can be used to track the produce’s movement and status, including fortnightly or monthly commodity health reports.

Once the produce is digitised, Arya addresses the potential cashflow needs of farmers. Arya has developed a digital fintech tool that can rapidly assess cashflow needs, conduct credit checks and disburse loans to farmers within 5 minutes.

Loans are provided via their wholly owned NBFC subsidiary, Aryadhan, or partner financial institutions. During the currency of the loan, generally ranging from 6 months to a year, farmers or FPOs uses the market linkage platform arya.ag to sell their produce at will, the decision making is further enabled through regular information on prices and other market factors.

What, according to you, are your company’s most notable contributions in the Agriculture sector?

Arya’s unique farmer-centred approach, providing a fullservice digital platform with embedded finance and differentiated efficiencies for small farmholders has made it India’s leading post-harveststartup.

“

With the goal of catering to farmers and FPOs that are in remote areas, too far from Arya’s warehouses to access their services, Arya has recently introduced flexible, on-demand

The Biggest Struggle On The Journey Was To Take The Entrepreneurial Leap & To Face The Fear Of Failure

Anand Chandra Executive Director

hermetic storage solutions. These warehousing solutions are IoT-enabled so grain environment parameters such as temperature, oxygen content, humidity and carbon dioxide content can be monitored. They can be used on-farm for as many months as warehousing is required and then easily dismantled and moved to another location.

Another critical innovation Arya has led has been to design mechanisms that cover the risk of price fall post storage for farmers. It has designed and implemented the first-of-its-kind Price Risk mitigation tool, in an exclusive partnership with Rabobank Foundation.

How has the featured person – CEO/Founder/Director helped to enhance the company’s outreach? What notable contributions has the person made in favour of the company?

Anand has close to two decades of experience in AgriCommodity Based financing and has been a part of ICICI Bank as the National Product Head for the Agri-Commodity Finance Business. He was instrumental in developing the product and the associated processes for the Bank and his experience has been instrumental in driving the entire operations and technology for Arya too. He is a highperforming leader both process and people driven which has helped the organization grow multifold over the last few years.

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Unlike its competitors, Arya had limited capital and so its execution had to be spot on. The first two years were hard, and we did whatever we could - travel by train, sleep in the offices - to reduce overheads.

The team used technology to track everything, ensure that debtor recovery was being done in time- made sure that Arya was profitable from the start. And slowly we positioned ourselves as the guys who were the quickest in execution.

Today the challenges are different. Penetrating increasingly remote areas is a challenge, as warehouse infrastructure may not already exist, but the scale of demand would not justify investments into creating facilities from scratch. Moreover, as Arya switches to a digital format, farmers / depositors still operate on an assisted model, with the help of a physically present representative, presenting a barrier or added costs to scale. But the team is made up of young, dynamic, driven individuals who want to make an impact. We were able to do what we left our jobs for - making a difference in the lives of the smallest, poorest farmer, creating impact and opportunities where access was limited.

Under his leadership, Arya has become India’s largest agriwarehousing player, with 85% of their operations in primary and secondary agricultural markets and large market shares in the states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

Over the years, Arya has received various awards. It has been recognised by the Smart CEO - Top 50 Start-up Award 2017 offered in collaboration with IDA Ireland, The All India AgriStart-Up Convention and Agri Start-Up Award 2018 by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, The Champions of Rural Markets award by the Economic Times in 2019, Indian Achievers' Award for Emerging Company 2020, adjudged the winner for CNBC Microsoft SMB Utsav 2021 celebrating Resilience in Indian businesses and most recently recognised as an impact Maker in the Amazon Smbhav Entrepreneurship Challenge.

What challenges has your team faced in the earlier days of the company? What struggles is the team going through now?

The biggest struggle on the journey was to take the entrepreneurial leap and to face the fear of failure. When we decided to start our journey with Arya, we were leaving behind cushy jobs and the security that came with it. But change does not come easy.

The global coronavirus outbreak has tested people, industries, governments, and supply chains all over the world. How exactly did the pandemic affect your company’s operations and finances?

The disruption of the pandemic had some great learnings.

While the pandemic afflicted various industries, it validated our services and our working model. Through technology, we could reach farmers and FPOs right at the farm gate during the pandemic. Our asset-light tech-based model ensures greater profitability with a natural insulation from shocks and allowed for us to push strongly into primary / secondary markets and the electronification of the agricultural commodity markets. However, with the second wave, we have put on hold expansion into newer territories for some time to reduce any burden on employees who are already stretched with health, family's wellbeing etc.

What are the future prospects for your esteemed company?

For the future, Arya’s focus will be on a larger reach and greater efficiency. We intend to enhance the digital platform, digitising the complete post-harvest value chain and enabling each farmer to have the freedom to decide when, where and who to sell their produce.

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THE USES OF TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN OF THE DRY FRUIT & NUT PRODUCTION PROCESS

D

ried fruits and nuts have been around for millennia and can be traced back as early as the Mesopotamian civilization, which then later became a staple in Mediterranean diets. These small powerhouses were equally popularized among other civilizations, including our own.

Dried fruits and nuts are engrained in our heritage, and proof of their importance can be found in ancient Ayurvedic texts that propagate their use due to the wondrous benefits they provide.

The continued rise of these ‘tiny but mighty’ foods is owed to the consistent need humans have had for long-lasting sustenance. The act of drying foods came about as a method of preservation for perishable items, enabling our ancestors to have security for long periods. Although the archaic manner of going about it was simple sun-drying, the overall effect was concentrated sweetness and condensed nutritional value. Over time, the drying process has changed with the entrance of technology, however, the base logic stays the same – dehydrating fruit or nut correctly enables consumption long after its regular shelf life, as well as prevents the growth of moulds and other unsanitary and unsavoury bacteria.

Innovative technologies have brought about freeze-drying, vacuum drying, and spray drying among others to the fray, which all contribute to better nutrient, colour, and taste retention, therefore consistently maintaining a high-quality product. The main reason these technologies were invented and are so widely used in recent times is the ability to quickly produce high volumes of dried fruits and nuts, while most importantly maintaining good hygiene standards. Archaic methods may have worked for our ancestors, but risked contamination by way of insects, animals, and microbes, as well as wasted batches due to unpredictable weather patterns.

Vacuum drying is one of the most common methods used for drying all types of foods. The dehydration process that uses microwave radiation to create heat at full pressure (chamber pressure) is called as Microwave vacuum drying. High-energy water molecules propagate to the surface and evaporate due to low pressure during vacuum drying. Owing to the absence of air, vacuum drying inhibits oxidation and maintains the colour, texture, and taste of dried products. This device can improve

the quality of products and the equipment can prolong the shelf life of food while preserving the original taste as well as the nutrients within the food. It entails the least nutrient loss and least colour change among other thermal drying along with a faster drying rate compared to freeze-drying.

Freeze-drying retains the colour, flavour, and shape as well as nutrients while maintaining a 100-percent natural or organic product, freeze-drying is probably best because no additional ingredients are introduced. However, freeze-drying is also the most expensive. It comes up with fruit having low moisture content, extended shelf life, reduced weight and has its nutrient integrity intact. Once it is rehydrated, freeze-dried fruit goes on to take its original form and taste. However, if not stored correctly, they can get soft over time as they absorb a lot of moisture from the air itself.

Dryness and conditioning - Fruits should not be dried to the point of being brittle or hard; they should be leathery and pliable. The ‘conditioning’ process helps equalize moisture among the various-sized pieces of fruit. It lessens the chances of mould growth and other spoilage.

The commercialisation of the process has become a necessity, and for FBOs to fulfil FSSAI guidelines, each step of the process has been mechanized. All processing steps, right from separation, cleaning and washing, to drying and packaging, have specialised machines ensuring the correct handling of the nuts and fruits.

Using optical sorting techniques, all dry fruits and nuts are segregated according to their colour and appearance. Grading machines allow them to be graded as per their sizes. The machines are of SS304 and SS316 grades, which are the highest quality stainless steel and hence, no chances for contamination. These materials are now a mandate because due to COVID-19, individuals are warier than ever, about the food and produce entering their homes. These machines are sanitised regularly and make use of only potable water along each step of the way. There is no human contact at all along the production line, which ensures the non-contamination of the products while maintaining optimum nutritional value.

Additionally, safe, sterile packing into food-safe packaging

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Technology in Production containers and materials only increases the value and shelf-life of the product.

With the healthy snacking industry on the rise and dried fruits and nuts being a large component of the same, it has become increasingly important for manufacturers to abide by quality and hygiene standards, especially with the increasing demand.

Choosing safely produced, chemical-free and sugar-free dried fruits and nuts are essential for consumers, and hence, essential for companies to meet the brief. Happilo has taken it upon themselves to ensure prerequisites are met, and to deliver only the highest quality product, which hence enables consumers to have the greatest benefit.

About the Author ‘The groundwork of all happiness is health’ is a maxim that seems to be embodied by Happilo – an amalgamation of ‘happiness’ and ‘love’, a brand striving to promote healthy snacking via sustainable behavioural and market changes.

Vikas Nahar, the CEO & Founder is an MBA graduate in Marketing from the reputed Institute of SCMHRD in Pune, and seems to have had an association to aliments connecting the dots of his professional as well as personal journey.

The son of a farmer in Sakleshpur, Malnad, who owned several coffee estates, Vikas was exposed to agricultural practices from a young age. Although he moved away to Bangalore in 2000 for this higher education in a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Application, his first job soon after was as an import-export manager at a firm trading spice internationally. Having already understood the scope of start-ups in India, Vikas longed to become an entrepreneur. After having completed his MBA, he set out on his venture to launch his own gourmet retail store ‘Satvikk’ in 2010. Satvikk had its beginnings in Bangalore, but with Nahar’s business acumen, he succeeded in scaling it up to 11 stores in the short span of 2 years. Along his journey in retail, he identified the dearth of healthy snacking options in India, as well as the disorganisation of the sector.

As a result, Vikas branched out in 2016 with a personal investment of just Rs 10,000, a loan from his wife and great support from government initiatives such as ‘Make In India’.

Happilo was born out of this ambitious move and stands today as one of India’s leading suppliers of premium, calorieconscious, nutrient rich snacks. Currently procuring their products from local farmers, Vikas has his eye set on the possibility of forming a co-operative in order to empower farmers and promote industry growth as well as value for the products themselves.

The Indian diet is carb-heavy, and most Indians today are not

aware of their own protein and nutrient deficits, neither are they aware of its remedies. Happilo’s driving purpose is to propagate healthy eating habits, and sustainable diet changes via their products. Every citizen possesses the right to good nutrition, and it is up to industry leaders to drive the change toward the betterment of our communities; consequently, Happilo will soon be launching affordable snack packets at Rs 20 for ease of access across all boards.

However, with this growing change in perceptions driving market growth, Happilo aims to give back not only to communities, but to the environment as well, which is why biodegradable packaging is on the horizon for the brand. Nahar was also crowned one of Times’ 40 under 40– this constant willingness to adapt, give back, and be responsible players in the market is what sets them apart.

With Vikas Nahar at the helm, the company has seen exponential growth from its inception to the present: now 140 employees strong, with a recent 100-crore funding, Vikas doesn’t plan on stopping there. His business plans include financial growth, bolstering new start-ups in the market with the same message, and ultimately adding value to the concept of healthy eating by means of strategic R&D and innovative product creation.

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“

BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS TO BE AT A PRECIPICE WHERE YOUR TENACITY, COURAGE AND DILIGENCE WILL BE TESTED TO ITS FULLEST. SO, BE PREPARED TO BE FIERCE IN YOUR RESOLVE TO WIN THIS AND YOU SHALL BE SLOWLY ON AN UPWARD JOURNEY

“

Krishna Mishra

A

social enterprise specializing in technological solutions for the "Base of the Pyramid" market is eKutir. In its first decade, eKutir has successfully extended opportunities for a range of impoverished and marginalized communities, including over 70,000 smallholders. Farmers have gained access to crucial information, products, services and markets, increased yields and income, reduced food waste and seen steadily improving soil and ecosystem health. eKutir's solutions restructure Agri advisory into timebound, easily digestible steps/recommendations delivered at the appropriate time of the cropping season. This pathway results in individually tailored, immediately actionable advice to farmers based on a combination of their progress in the growth cycle and real-time weather data.

It automates the delivery of general business acumen to farmers and create several delivery routes that cater to both literate and illiterate, smartphone-enabled and smartphoneless farmers. Let's find out how eKutir is helping in making a change for good in the agricultural industry through the below highlights of the interview:

Brief us about the Founder/CEO of the company and the major contribution of him/her towards the development of the company.

Krishna Mishra, Group Chairman and Founder of eKutir and Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Blooom Krishna Mishra, a social entrepreneur, and innovator is the Founder and Chairman of eKutir group of companies. He has 30 years of leadership exposure in social entrepreneurship and Bottom of Pyramid market. He has a strong experience in rural banking, agriculture, microfinance, development, and technology services. He is a Global Ashoka fellow and widely recognized for his inclusive business models and social innovation. KC has been instrumental in driving excellence from his wide range of experience in the domain of agriculture, sanitation, and clean and affordable energy for the Bottom of Pyramid population in rural areas. eKutir is India's first B Corp certified company and provides digital technology solutions anchored through a network of trained micro-entrepreneurs to accelerate sustainable growth in the farming communities. It has been working with smallholder farmers and impacted 74,000

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India's Best Agriculture Solution Providers | 2021

eKutir

Developing Data-Driven, Networked Technologies

farmers and improved their livelihoods.

Their human centric model has generated more than 4000 micro-entrepreneurs and has presence in India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Haiti. KC is an alumnus of Delhi University, India and certified in "Innovative organizational model of farmers, Corporate Leadership and sustainable new generation Co-operatives" from Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICA), University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. He has been inducted as "Ashoka Changemakers" Fellow in 2012.

Suvankar Mishra, Executive Director of eKutir and CEO and Co-Founder of Blooom Suvankar Mishra is the Executive Director of eKutir and CEO & Co-Founder of Blooom. He is serial social entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker and Forbes 30 under 30 nominees. Under the leadership of Suvankar Mishra, eKutir has achieved multiple accolades. eKutir has been awarded by Facebook, Internet.org, and MIT inclusive Innovation challenges, Grand Challenges India, USAID, and BIRAC etc. The strong impact creation has been published by McGill University and IFPRI which sighted the farmers' income levels has increased as much as 200% from using the eKutir model. Deloitte has highlighted eKutir as one of the twenty social enterprises reaching into the deep pockets of low-income, BoP communities.

Suvankar is an alumnus of Stanford, Harvard and University of Pennsylvania, USA. He is an engineer from BITS, Pilani, India.

Tell us about the services you provide through your venture.

Our tech platform (Blooom) Blooom is a comprehensive, modular tech platform that can be used via an Android mobile application and a web-based interface. Two subscription plans are available, with the more expensive option offering additional in-person services such as training and field demonstrations. Blooom consists of the following components.

Suvankar Mishra Pre-Harvest The goal of Blooom's pre-harvest side is to increase crop productivity and sustainability, while de-risking and reducing the cost of cultivation. It enables previously disconnected smallholder farmers to access a market of vetted, high quality seeds and other agricultural inputs at discounted prices. Complemented by an inexpensive soil testing solution, a dynamic, highly context-sensitive smart farming engine provides advice on what, when and how to plant, nurture, and protect from disease, and through recurring use builds the ability to give farmers an RoI forecast for each crop.

Risk – The first pillar of our Financial Inclusion through Risk Management (FIRM) approach, this module assesses each farm based on a comprehensive list of 169 risks that may affect smallholders. Part of the process is automated

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based on existing data on location, size, soil quality, etc.

Another part of it is based on data input by Blooom entrepreneurs or farmer collectives. One of the results is a customized risk mitigation strategy that guides farmers through the necessary steps to minimize risk factors. The other is a risk score, which helps financial institutions, assess whether they are able to provide loans and insurance to previously data-less farmers.

The most interesting outcome and new challenge for the development of our platform came again from an unexpected outcome. In peri-urban areas in Odisha, many of our Farmer Interest Groups gradually organized themselves into "vegetable clusters," while the poor population in the nearby urban areas was reported to consume less than 60% of its recommended vegetable intake, leading to health problems.

Plan – Plan gives farmers an overview of the required activities and nutrients for each crop before making a purchase, and once they have used the platform for a period of time, it can tell them their expected returns on investment, based on a range of factors including land size, soil quality, available inputs, season, climate, market prices and trends and farmers' previous transactions. It warns if there is a resource gap between the requirements of the selected crop and the soil quality and inputs available for the farmer.

We have received funding to create more immediate market relationships between these farmer clusters and the urban poor, making vegetables more affordable and accessible.

The core challenge of the project was connecting farmers to consumers in a direct and effective way – however, we also had a parallel mission: giving primary role to women on every side of the intervention. In the model that we have created, urban consumers could either shop in newly set up micro retail enterprises called VeggieMarts or purchase online for doorstep delivery through the Veggie Kart site and app that we connected directly with the backend that our micro entrepreneurs used.

Seed – If one had to name the single most important component that a farmer's fortune hinges on, it would be the seed. In developing markets, procuring high quality, soilappropriate seeds at the right time is a very significant challenge. This module recommends farmers best fit seed based on local availability, climate, season, and data from soil analysis. It tracks farmers' previous purchases to ensure regular seed replacement in order to prevent soil exhaustion. Once farmers have made a choice, the platform aggregates local demand to ensure the best possible price from a marketplace of vetted, trusted suppliers.

Nurture – Nurture uses data from soil testing to recommend farmers the most appropriate fertilizers for their selected crops, helps them purchase from trusted suppliers at discounted prices, and then provides them guidance on the timing, dosage and application procedure of fertilizers throughout the crop cycle. The module emphasizes organic fertilizer use and precise application to avoid excess dosage, currently common with smallholders.

Protect – This module helps farmers prevent, as well as diagnose and treat crop diseases. Similar to other components of the platform, it enables the procurement of the appropriate protective and curative products at discounted prices, and then provides guidance on the right timing, dosage and application procedures.

Please share some success stories, awards and accolades that the company has received.

Awards and recognitions eKutir is India's first Certified B Corporation accredited by the US non-profit B Lab, which measures and holds forprofit companies accountable to the highest level of social and environmental impact. Its work has been featured in a number of international journals and popular write ups.

Brief us about the future of the company or the goal it has set to mark its exceptionality in future.

Our ten-year vision: Democratizing the future of farming In developing countries, smallholder farmers feed 60 to 80% of society, yet they are not fully a part of it. They are deprived of information, access, attention and respect. Their lives are steered by forces that they are helpless against – be it the below-market prices that buyers offer them, or the next drought or flood brought about by climate change.

Currently, most smallholders are isolated from solutions, at the mercy of an increasingly hostile environment. That is going to change. Ten years from now, farmers will act with a sense of agency, in a market defined by mutually advantageous relationships. They will see opportunities around them, and will know how to seize them. In our vision, farmers do not feel that they are 'beneficiaries.' They feel in control.

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Awards and Media coverage: • Ashoka - Innovators of the Public • MIT Initiative on Digital Economy • Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufactures [RSA] Fellowship • India's rst certied B Corp • GIIRS Impact rated • RS Future of Work Awards 2019 • Facebook & Internet.org Innovation Winner, 2015 • NextBillion - Featured in 2016 • The Inclusive Business Practitioner Hub • Unitus Ventures – 2016 • Sustainable Brands- 2017, 2018 • Forbes India -2016 • Business Fights Poverty • Tech in Asia • Billion Bulbs • Future of Food | Suvankar Mishra | TEDx SOA University • Human Digital Platform to Aid Sustainable Development | Suvankar Mishra | TEDxXIMB • Economic Times- 2015 • Business Standard- 2016 • BBC World Service -2016 • Outlook Business • Social Business.org • CNBC TV 18 • The Asian Entrepreneur • e-agriculture • Indiaretailing.com

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Dynamics of

Indian sector post

COVID-19 Future Scenario

T

he global pandemic, Covid-19 has badly impacted all walks of life. Nations are increasingly focusing on protecting the lives of the people suffering from the deadly disease and the frontline healthcare workers. The Indian government has swung into action to shield the nation from this life-threatening disease. Several states are observing lockdowns to ensure the containment of the virus spread.

It has also raised the question that how has this crisis affected the agriculture sector, the farmers, and their households across the nation, and also the economy? Let us take a look at the various immediate challenges that the pandemic has posed on the farming sector and learn how these problems can be mitigated during the post-Covid period.

The Growing Challenges In light of increasing Covid cases, the government has imposed restrictions on the movement of people and vehicular traffic. This has put on some negative effects on the farming sector. This is the peak season of rabi crops in India, which include gram, lentil, wheat, mustard, and so on. Accordingly, these crops are harvestable, and they are reaching the maturity stage.

During this time, farm harvests reach the marketplaces, where they are procured by designated government agencies. Moreover, if there is any disruption in the supply of perishable goods such as vegetables, fruits, fish, dairy products, and so on, it will create a severe problem in the supply chain. This will lead to the inability in fulfillment of the demand of various urban and rural consumers.

Many workers from few parts of the country have also started migrating to their native places, which has increased the concern, because these people play a crucial role in harvesting and post-harvesting operations, along with handling of the produce and storing it in safe marketing centers.

One of the major challenges faced by the government during the lockdown period is to ensure that food grains, fruits, vegetables, and all other essentials are available to the customers in both rural and urban areas. Hence, it is important that during these challenging times, the supply chain should be functioning smoothly, while ensuring adequate safety measures for all the people involved.

Authorities should also ensure that essential commodities are delivered to the vulnerable population, while following all the necessary guidelines and protocols, especially, social distancing, sanitizing, masking, and so on.

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Agriculture Tomorrow The ongoing lockdown coincides with the rabi harvesting season. Hence, this has created a major obstruction in harvesting of crops and smooth procurement operations.

However, the Union Home Ministry has issued a circular according to which there will be no restrictions on the interstate intra-sate movement of farmers and laborers and the farm machinery which are related to farming and harvesting. This will be advantageous for farmers; however, the government should prioritize their safety. The shortage of workforce and transport has also badly hit the sale of dairy products, fish, poultry, and so on. In many parts of the nation, the weather has been very unpredictable during the past few months. Keeping this in perspective, the harvested produce must also be protected from such risks.

Tackling the Challenges Efficiently Agriculturists have been affected badly during the pandemic. During these times, it is essential that they are provided with the much-needed support. Many farmers, who depend on informal employment, have also lost their jobs during the pandemic. Governing bodies should provide alternative finance avenues to them (such as cash transfers) until the economy recovers from the pandemic problem.

Farmers can be provided with various funds so that they do not fall under any pressure due to the lack of finances.

Additionally, landless laborers and workers can also be provided with wage employment to support them financially.

Authorities can establish dedicated toll-free help lines/ call centers to address the grievances of the farmers and to answer their queries related to the announced government measures. The government can also play an essential role by providing various healthcare facilities to the farmers so that they can take care of themselves and their families during these challenging times.

Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. The farmers and agriculturists feed the entire population of this nation through their dedication and hard work. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has introduced severe challenges for various segments of the society. The agriculture sector has also been severely hit during this crisis. Nevertheless, the government is taking various corrective measures to ensure that the farmers, farm laborers, landless laborers, and workers do not face any financial, logistical, or physical problems.

Authorities should increase investments in key logistics so that the demand for agricultural commodities can be sustained. Moreover, it is essential to encourage ecommerce, delivery companies, and start-ups so that they can step in aid of the farmers in need.

The government can help farmers with the lack of farm labor by providing them with machinery through various state bodies, farmer producer organizations, and custom hiring centers and also sufficient incentives.

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-Ananda Kamal Das

RAW Pressery

Enabling an Experience Filled with the Goodness of Mother Nature t all started when Anuj Rakyan was looking for a juice option and could not find one without any additives, concentrate, sugar, colour or preservatives.

Not only that, all juices on shelf were pasteurized (boiled) impacting the nutritive value of the juices.

I

There was also a limitation in the choice of fruit juices with the usual orange, mango, apple flavour juice based drinks.

He saw there was a gap for him as a consumer for fresh, no additives juices with interesting fruit and vegetable mixes for consumption.

Cold-pressed was a technology that used no heat, no oxidation to extract the juice where the juices weren't blended but pressed for more pulp. Blending also breaks down cell structure of the fruit and the presence of oxygen can lead to faster oxidation of the juice.

Taking matters in his own hands, literally, he started making his own healthy, fresh juices in his mother's kitchen which became the inception point of RAW Pressery. Anuj Rakyan shares with us his thoughts and success stories with Insights Success in the interview mentioned below.

Anuj Rakyan Founder and MD RAW Pressery

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India's Best Agriculture Solution Providers | 2021

keeps a check on health while delivering fresh and delicious products.

“

Innovation can become your biggest differentiator and ensure you remain relevant to your target audience.

It's also important to be transparent and really understand the need of the consumer.

Always keep it simple, authentic and most importantly keep it RAW

“

Brief us about the Founder/CEO of the company and the major contribution of him/her towards the development of the company.

Anuj Rakyan, is the Founder and MD of RAW Pressery, India's first and largest clean label brand. Growing up as an athlete, Anuj understood the importance of eating healthy and maintain an active lifestyle. His keen interest in health and fitness and his understanding of the space lead him to launch India's honestly healthy "All Good. No Bad" brand.

Anuj's goal is to address the scarcity of honest & transparent products and build a brand that is genuine and authentic. He aims to plug this gap through an offering that

Tell us about the services you provide through your venture.

RAW Pressery started with home-delivering 8 different types of healthy juices & also the first ever Juice Cleanse in Mumbai with the help of dabbawalas. The brand now is available in over 16 cities (mainly Bangalore, Hyderabad, NCR, Mum, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Mangalore, Chennai) and more than 2000 points of sale. Our most recent All Good. No Bad offering is the dairy-free almond milk which comes in 4 variants namely, cacao, plain (unsweetened), mango & dates. We have also forayed into the Middle East with our first steps in the UAE and Qatar.

Please share some success stories, awards, and accolades that the company has received.

RAW Pressery has been much loved and recognized within food & beverage and the startup industry with many awards such as the Golden Spoon, 50 Emerging Startups to watch in India and even the Entrepreneur of the Year which was awarded to Anuj Rakyan. Our most recent one which we are extremely proud and honored to receive is the Best Vegan Drink award by Peta (2018).

How does the company intend to give back to the society?

As a brand we believe in trust and transparency and our brand philosophy of all good. No bad. Is extended from sourcing to production. We are a clean label brand and we believe in sustainable solutions. While we were always recycling our plastic waste at the factory we were asking ourselves the question of how we can make ourselves not just plastic neutral but also recycling positive. Many of our consumers are conscious to return their bottles which we then send further to our recycling partners. We wanted to educate consumers that proper waste management coupled with modern day innovations can prevent plastic from entering the seas unchecked. Also that there exists technology today that can convert this plastic into wearable apparel.

We use plastic bottles for our juices as they are coldpressed, never pasteurized and undergo high water pressure processing (HPP) technology for preserving the juice.

Plastic is the only element that can sustain the pressure, glass cannot withstand the high pressure. Any juice that's in a tetrapak or a glass bottle is pasteurized in order to get shelf life and pasteurizing impacts the nutritional value of

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Indian farmers and tackling the growing food demand.

We work very closely with our farmers and are constantly learning and gaining valuable insights from them to make our product better. With the help of technology, we are soon going to be able to showcase to our customers the entire supply chain right from where a particular ingredient was sourced, the soil condition, it's ph level, at what temperature it was harvested and transported to the pressery, even details of the juicing process going right up to the point the bottle goes onto a retail shelf. With the help of technology, we are going to bring in more transparency and thereby further strengthen the trust within our customers.

the juice. Our juices are never boiled or pasteurized to preserve nutrition value in the juices.

Glass is also heavier and requires more fuel energy to transport impacting the environment with higher carbon footprint. With this initiative, we are aiming for better waste management and how with the help of innovation and creativity we can give purpose to plastic. As we're all aware, unmanaged plastic waste in our eco-system wreaks havoc on international biodiversity. With a growing ecoconscious community and global thought leaders now entering the conversation, there is hope to provide innovative solutions to waste management, and in turn, create a circular economy. Our primary goal is to mitigate the amount of plastic that's getting dumped in our wastelands and oceans. Seven RAW Pressery bottles, make 1 RAW Cycled T-shirt. From the time we started, we have successfully collected 1.2 million bottles. Currently it's a drop in the ocean but every little drop counts.

Brief us about the future of the company or the goal it has set to mark its exceptionality in future.

RAW Pressery started with 8 super healthy cold pressed juices and now we have over 26 different juices including the country's first-ever bottled sugarcane juice. The key factor is to innovate and provide customers convenience without compromise.

The core philosophy of All Good. No Bad runs throughout the company and we will keep coming up with products that stand true to this promise. We recently launched Almond Milk which was is a dairy alternative for the lactose intolerant and vegan audience. Very soon we will launching new flavors and many such innovative products that help people lead fulfilling healthy lifestyles.

Share with us one latest development in agricultural technology that will play a major role in helping the

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