Empowering Farmers: Agrivijay’s vision for Renewable Energy in agriculture

Vimal Panjwani | October 21, 2024

In this episode of Food Frontiers we interview Vimal Panjwani, founder of AgriVijay, wherein he delves into his inspiring journey from a successful corporate career to pioneering agritech solutions. Vimal discusses the challenges faced by farmers in India, particularly in adopting renewable energy technologies, and highlights the importance of creating a comprehensive platform that simplifies access to these solutions.

He shares insights on the immediate benefits of renewable energy adoption, including increased savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while outlining his ambitious vision for expanding AgriVijay’s impact. Vimal also offers invaluable advice for aspiring agritech entrepreneurs, emphasizing resilience and a commitment to addressing the needs of rural communities.

vimal panjwani - tpci

IBT: I would like to hear from your own words, how or what inspired you to create AgriBijay, a brief of your background for the benefit of the audience and what gap did you see in the market, which inspired you to start this venture?

Vimal Panjwani: My journey in the agritech sector began in 2015 when I transitioned from a successful corporate career with Bisleri and ICICI Bank to the startup ecosystem. I co-founded AgriBolo, DharmaLife, Ugao.com, and SystemR.Bio, building brands that achieved notable success. As I gained experience in agritech, I entered the renewable energy space through Systema.bio and Dharma Life, where I recognized the potential of biogas and solar technologies for farmers and rural households.

I noticed that most solutions focused on a single problem, like biogas, but there was no comprehensive platform for renewable and green energy products tailored for farmers. Both biogas and solar energy can significantly increase savings and income, yet there was a lack of accessibility and education around these solutions.

This realization led to the idea of creating a platform for renewable energy products. We aimed not just to sell products through a mobile app but to educate and raise awareness about these technologies. We established offline renewable energy stores in villages, making these products accessible while also providing information on their usage and benefits.

To enhance engagement, we integrated AI technology, launching online renewable energy stores with a chatbot that allows farmers to interact in local languages like Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Telugu. We also introduced financing options to make these products affordable for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

In December 2020, during the second wave of COVID-19, we launched Agri-Vijay as an end-to-end solution provider. Our marketplace exists both offline and online, where we recommend, deliver, and install renewable energy products at the village level, empowering farmers and transforming their access to sustainable solutions.

IBT: What have been your major learnings about the market, and the challenges it presents and even the opportunities over these years since you started the company?

Vimal Panjwani: I think we are around 7,000 agritech startups now in the ecosystem. So out of the 1.7 lakh startups in India, 7,000 are working in the agritech and climate change space. Agri-tech is relatively difficult space to enter and build your value proposition because agriculture being the agrarian economy and agriculture is still the main component of our contribution towards the GDP side and we still have 70% population in India living across. It is a difficult territory to enter and build a solution around it, especially when the climate change angle also comes in into the agritech side, it becomes all the more challenging.

Building Agri-Vijay has been both challenging and rewarding. I believe the current Government of India startup ecosystem, which has come through with the guidance and leadership of our honorable PM, That has actually helped AgriVijay to evolve and grow and become a global ag-tech, climate-tech and social enterprise. We have received substantial support from the Government of India, including backing from initiatives like the Television Mission and NITI Aayog. Their guidance has been instrumental in helping us grow as a startup within this ecosystem. While the current government’s startup initiatives have fostered a supportive environment, challenges remain—especially in convincing consumers and investors of our value proposition. The gestation period for agritech startups is long, requiring us to demonstrate our business models and bring tangible value to consumers before scaling operations.

In our four years, we have resiliently penetrated 595 villages, positively impacting 6,000 farming families with solar, biogas, and green energy technologies. We have secured small rounds of investment from NABARD, IRMA, and the Government of India, facilitating our growth. With 100 renewable energy stores operational at the village level and the launch of our AI chatbot, we are engaging with 2 million farming families across India. As we continue to evolve as an organization, we look forward to new developments and opportunities, driven by our commitment to making a meaningful impact in agritech and climate tech.

IBT: So I’m sure possibly you would have seen a lot of initial resistance amongst the farming community towards adoption of renewable energy. Which are the major areas where you are proposing that they adopt the solution? How have you overcome this assistance which they have initially? How are you basically working on that issue?

Vimal Panjwani: Renewable energy adoption in India has faced two main challenges: the reluctance to embrace these technologies and the fragmented service landscape. Although solar and biogas solutions have been available for years, and government initiatives like PM Kusum Yojana and PM Surya Nirbhar Yojana have tried to promote them, many still perceive these technologies as unaffordable. Additionally, farmers often struggle with finding comprehensive solutions; they need to source panels, pumps, and installation from different vendors, complicating after-sales support.

To address these challenges, we have created a one-stop platform that simplifies the process for farmers and rural households. We offer comprehensive solutions, including free insurance against theft and natural disasters, which assures them that their investments are protected. We also provide long-term warranties of five, ten, or even fifteen years, reinforcing confidence in the durability of our products.

Our approach includes dedicated after-sales support, with call centers responding within 48 hours and field teams ready to troubleshoot on-site issues. This responsiveness builds trust, which is crucial for encouraging further adoption of renewable technologies.

We’ve also focused on education to overcome initial resistance. Many farmers are not familiar with these innovations, so we leverage social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube to showcase how these technologies work and their benefits. Recently, we’ve introduced electric tractors and electric toolbars, allowing farmers to see these products in action. By enhancing awareness and understanding, we aim to encourage more farmers to consider renewable energy solutions and make informed decisions about adopting them.

IBT: With the current level of evolution at which renewable energy is, what is the extent of saving and also the climate change impact which these solutions can provide? Can you give us some examples for that?

Vimal Panjwani: The best part of renewable energy products is the immediate savings and increased income after installation. Benefits can range from ₹300 to lakhs, depending on the kilowatt or megawatt technology used. Another significant advantage is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. For example, a 2 cubic meter biogas digester can abate 5 tons of CO2 annually, while a solar water pump can avoid 3.68 tons of emissions each year.

In India, where we have around 9 crore farmer families, if each one became a producer and consumer of renewable energy, we could not only enhance their income but also make a substantial contribution to achieving our national net-zero goals. This alignment with global climate action is central to our vision.

Looking ahead, we are on a growth trajectory, with plans to close our pre-series A funding soon. We’ve recently signed an MOU with the German company Next to Sun and Watercraft to launch AgriVoltec projects featuring vertical bifacial solar technology at agricultural universities across India. This technology allows solar energy production without harming vegetation, demonstrating coexistence between agriculture and energy.

Additionally, we’re collaborating with organizations like the UN on various decentralized renewable energy (DRE) projects to promote energy and financial independence for communities. As we expand into new states—like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh—we’re also helping innovative startups reach last-mile consumers through our renewable energy stores.

We’re also focused on carbon credit initiatives, ensuring farmers using solar and biogas technologies can benefit directly from carbon credits, incentivizing further adoption. Our vision includes expanding into regions like Africa, Vietnam, and Taiwan, with a goal to impact over 1 lakh farming families and contribute significantly to global climate action.

IBT: India is a leading producer of agricultural products. How do you view the evolution of the agri-tech ecosystem in India compared to other countries?

Vimal Panjwani: The evolution of the agri-tech ecosystem in India is remarkable. Having been part of several accelerator programs, I’ve seen a significant focus on agri-tech, driven by strong government support. The Ministry of Agriculture has launched dedicated startup funds to assist agri-tech startups, and we have NABARD and SIDBI introducing substantial funding initiatives.

What stands out about the Indian agri-tech landscape is its resilience. Many startups, including those I’ve co-founded, have not only survived but have also shown growth during challenging times, unlike some conventional startups that have shut down. While we may not have raised millions yet, we have demonstrated tangible growth and impact, which is increasingly attracting investor interest.

This thriving environment, coupled with around 7,000 agri-tech startups, indicates a promising future. India is on a growth trajectory, aligned with the vision of our honorable Prime Minister, contributing to the goal of becoming the third-largest economy. This is significant because we are fundamentally an agrarian economy.

For anyone considering entering the agri-tech space, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of the problem you’re solving. Farmers and rural households are still adapting to digital solutions, so your approach should cater to both offline and online audiences. Building a successful agri-tech startup is a long journey—typically taking 10 to 15 years—requiring patience and resilience. If you’re ready to listen, learn, and adapt, this sector offers immense opportunities for meaningful impact.

Vimal Panjwani is a first generation Entrepreneur,a seasoned & passionate Rural-Agri Sales Professional with an diverse industry experience of 10+ years post B.tech (Bionformatics) & MBA in Agribusiness Management from Symbiosis Institute of International Business,Pune.

Having worked at Senior Management positions at Bisleri International,ICICI Bank,Sony Pictures Networks, inclined towards Rural,Agri & Social Impact space gave me passion to work for Farmers & Rural Population of India.After having built/started commercially 3 successful Startups in the Agritech/Social Impact space from zero to their highest peak of business and brands for other Founders – Sistema.bio | AgriBolo | Dharmalife , I decided to enter Entrepreneurship with our Startup AgriVijay with a vision to Empower Farmers with ‘Renewable Energy’ making them Energy Independent,helping them to Increase their Savings & Income along with contributing to the Climate Change mitigation.

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