Nearly 70 per cent of the rural population is dependent on farming. Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s food security and rural livelihoods. The sector grapples with fragmented landholdings, weather surprises, infrastructure gaps, low productivity and volatile prices. The mismatch between its economic weight (18 per cent of GDP) and workforce share (46 per cent) highlights the structural fault lines limiting rural prosperity. For India to sustain 8% economic growth, agriculture must grow at 4 per cent annually; this target must be scaled.
India’s booming startup ecosystem is offering game-changing solutions. These innovation-driven companies, built on transformational ideas, are inherently disruptive and create new pathways for progress. This is vital for farming, long viewed as a traditional and slow-moving domain. According to the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), the number of agritech startups has risen from fewer than 50 a decade ago to over 7,000 today. This remarkable growth reflects supportive government policies, Startup India initiatives and a rapidly maturing innovation ecosystem. But the larger story is not the startup count; it is the shift in mindset. Farming is no longer seen only as cultivation; it is becoming a data-driven, tech-enabled enterprise.
New-age technology is redefining Indian farming, empowering farmers with smarter decisions, reduced risks and higher yields. Soil-mapping startups, for instance, offer a wealth of data that strengthens decision-making and uncovers new opportunities, improving productivity while reducing environmental impact. Digital marketplaces have democratised access to quality seeds, fertilisers and equipment, while app-based advisory platforms deliver customised crop guidance and advanced weather insights, marking a crucial step towards the future of farming.
The Telangana example
Startups increasingly combine AI, satellite imagery and predictive analytics to forecast weather risks, market demand and pest outbreaks. In Telangana, for instance, farmers recorded a 21 per cent increase in chilli yields per acre, a 9 per cent reduction in pesticide use, a 5 per cent drop in fertiliser consumption and an 8 per cent rise in unit prices due to improved quality assisted by AI tools this year. For a country where erratic monsoons can disrupt cropping cycles, such intelligence is transformative.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is using AI to provide monsoon forecasts, enabling 38 million farmers to receive predictions about rainfall patterns up to 30 days in advance. The initiative offers a tailored solution for smallholder farmers who depend heavily on rainfall. Understanding soil patterns and weather vagaries is the kind of intelligence farmers have always relied on; with innovation, they are now harnessing technology to make advanced assessments in less time.
Shoots of change Innovation does not thrive on entrepreneurial enthusiasm alone. It requires strong public–private partnerships (PPPs) so that industry and government work together for deeper tech penetration. The Government of India has taken steps through the Digital Agriculture Mission, which aims to build a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Indian farming. Initiatives such as AgriStack, the Krishi Decision Support System and national soil fertility maps will create integrated data systems, unlocking enormous value for startups and delivering precision advisory to the last mile.
AI’s sucess
Private sector innovation, when combined with public sector scale, can dramatically accelerate the adoption of new technologies across Indian agriculture. A report, Future Farming in India: A Playbook for Scaling AI in Agriculture, backed by the World Economic Forum, shows how AI has helped farmers increase yields, reduce input costs and improve profitability. But it also highlights the need for coordinated action: AI will succeed at scale when governments, industry, startups, research institutions and farmers work together. The playbook emphasises that India’s farming future must make technology accessible, affordable and inclusive.
Yet, some headwinds must be addressed. Funding for agritech startups has declined from $498 million in 2023 to $182 million in 2025. Some business models have struggled, leading to shutdowns and dented confidence. Innovation has plateaued in categories such as marketplaces and drone platforms. A stronger culture of agritech research must be fostered, with international partnerships to help share knowledge. The next phase of innovation must prioritise deeper collaboration, patient capital and impact-driven growth.
The author is Founder & CEO, MapMyCrop
Published on December 21, 2025
