Fundamentals of Rural Development

Business Plan
 Enterprise Name: AgroConnect

 Presented by -
 Harsh Aware - 41
 Adish Patil - 40
 Paras Bhandare -
 Nikita Bhagure -

Date - 28/10/2023
 AgroConnect
Empowering Rural
Communities
Bridging the Gap Between Farmers and Markets

Fairness, Sustainability, and Collaboration

Introduction:

 We are a digital B2B market solution that brings together Farmers and
Industrial Buyers.
 Our digital platform gives access to valuable insights so that they can
adopt best practices and manage farms more efficiently thus reducing
losses and maximizing profits.
 It connects farmers directly with buyers by eliminating middlemen, it
provides insights about market information, i.e. demand and supply.
 Its unique feature which sets us apart from everyone is we have
collaborated with local businesses, it is environment-friendly, has
agriculture support, and has active community involvement, etc.
Challenges and Solutions:

 Problem: Limited access to modern agricultural technology,

sustainable farming resources and practices in rural areas,
and markets and fair pricing for rural farmers.

 Impact: These challenges lead to economic disparities,

migration, and reduced quality of life in rural communities.

 Solution: Create a digital platform that connects rural

farmers directly with buyers, and provides market
information.
Current Data:

 Maharashtra has a total of 13.6 million farmers, of

which 48.9% are marginal farmers and 29.5% are small
farmers.

 Estimated annual agricultural output: 1.9 Trillion Indian

Rupees

 The Indian farming market size reached INR 25,173

billion in 2022 and is expected to reach INR 45,577
Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of
10.3% during 2023-2028.
Market Entry Strategy:
 Farmer outreach through agricultural extension programs: Providing education and support to
farmers through agricultural extension services.

 Buyer outreach through partnerships with local businesses: Forming collaborations with local
businesses to reach potential buyers.

 Digital marketing and mobile app presence: Utilizing online marketing and mobile apps to
increase visibility and accessibility.

 Collaborate with local governments to align initiatives with broader development goals:
Partnering with local governments to ensure initiatives align with wider development objectives.

 Advertisement through various channels: Promoting the project through banners, wall paintings,
campaigns, pamphlets, word of mouth, newspapers, opinion leaders, and radio.

 Identifying high-impact regions through pilot projects: Selecting areas with significant potential
for impact and starting with smaller pilot initiatives.
Understanding the Competition:
 M kisan: MKisan is an SMS portal for farmers in India.
The portal allows central and state government
organizations to provide information and services to farmers
about agricultural practices.

 Tradebridge: RADEBRIDGE is an e-commerce B2B

Platform, Wholesale, designed specifically for small & and
medium businesses in India.

 Farmerconnet: An agritech company that provides software

to help farmers connect to the agriculture supply chain.
Sustainable Revenue Generation:
 Subscription fees from farmers and buyers: Charging regular fees to both
farmers and buyers for platform access.

 Commission on successful transactions: Earning a percentage of each

successful transaction conducted on the platform.

 Premium features for advanced market insights: Offering advanced tools

and data to users for a fee.

 Sponsorships: Partnering with organizations for financial support and

visibility.

 Attracting funding from impact investors aligned with the mission of rural
development: Securing investments from individuals or groups who share
the mission of rural development.
Scaling Our Impact:

 Phase 1: Launch a pilot program in 10 rural communities during

the first year to test and refine the initiative's effectiveness.
 Phase 2: In the second year, scale up the program to include 50
additional rural communities, expanding its reach.
 Phase 3: Over the next five years, aim for a national expansion
and integration with regional markets to bring the initiative to a
broader audience and make it a significant part of the
agricultural landscape.
Our Core Values:

 Fairness: We prioritize providing equal opportunities to rural

farmers, ensuring fairness in access to resources and benefits.

 Sustainability: Our focus is on creating a lasting and

environmentally friendly agricultural system for the benefit of
future generations.

 Collaboration: We highly value partnerships and working together

for the mutual success of all stakeholders involved in rural
development.
Impact on Industry & Society:

 Industry: Overhauling the agricultural supply chain to establish a

just and transparent marketplace.

 Society: Boosting farmers' income, minimizing food waste, and

fortifying rural economies.

 Providing fair prices to the people: Ensuring equitable prices for

consumers.

 Improving standard of living: Elevating the overall quality of life for

individuals and communities.
Key Roles:

 CEO (Harsh Aware): Leads and sets the

strategic direction of the organization.

 Finance Officer (Adish Patil): Manages

finances and budgeting.

 Operations Manager (Nikita Bhagure):

Oversees daily platform operations.

 Agricultural Specialist (Paras

Bhandare): Offers technical guidance
to farmers.