Climate-Resilient Crop Diversification for Marginalized Farmers
Innovation Type:
Water-Food
Product Segment:
Other
Country of Incorporation:
India
Country of Implementation:
India
Company Stage:
Stage 3: 1,001 to 10,000 end-users
Seeking Investment:
Yes, $2 million USD
Financing Goals:
Seeking hybrid (convertible debt or similar)
Contact Name:
Kartik Iyer
Contact Email:
Website:
Challenges
In India, marginalized farmers often struggle with limited resources such as small landholdings, inadequate water supply, insufficient financial means, and a lack of connection to markets in which to sell their produce. Many of these farmers come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which makes it difficult for them to adopt modern agricultural practices. Additionally, the excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers and monocropping has degraded soil health, further hindering productivity. Women farmers, in particular, face unique obstacles, including a lack of access to assets and formal credit, which limits their ability to generate income and improve their socio-economic status.
Solutions
To tackle these issues, Human Ventures creates a strong ecosystem that includes access to credit, high-quality farming inputs, expert guidance, and connections to markets. Their main focus is on crop diversification and climate-smart agriculture, which helps improve soil health and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They have also created a new template to finance farmers with challenging credit scores. Through this innovation, marginalized farmers can experience an increase in income.
