A month of on-ground agri-tech implementation, sharper strategic alignment and reflections on building for the long term at Marico Innovation Foundation.
April at Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) was driven by a dual focus: going deeper on the ground and looking clearly at the road ahead. In Mirzapur and Varanasi, the MIF Agri-tech pilot moved into a more active phase. At the same time, MIF’s Governing Council came together to reflect on how our programmes can work as a more connected ecosystem.
The MIF x Samunnati Foundation Agri-Tech Pilot in Mirzapur and Varanasi, focused on post-harvest losses, is in its implementation phase. Team MIF was in Cholapur in Varanasi earlier this month to interact with farmers and address questions and concerns around technology adoption and usage.
The need for this initiative is clear, according to the farmers we spoke to. In Cholapur, Varanasi, Ashok Kumar spoke about the direct loss farmers face after harvest: “Many times, if a farmer has harvested a quintal (100 kilos) of vegetables, by the time it reaches the shop it becomes 95 kilos.”
For Sheela from Chunar, Mirzapur, another farmer, the challenge is about timing, the ability to wait for a better price. “If our crops survive the damage, we’ll earn a good income. If we store them for a couple of days and then sell them, we’ll get a good price,” she explains.
To respond to these challenges, MIF has deployed startup-led solutions on the ground including those by ColdEasy, Agrograde, Sabjikothi by Saptkrishi, and Godaam Innovations.
Live demonstrations are underway with founders of Godaam Innovations and Saptkrishi also present on the field interacting with farmers, who can assess how these tools fit into their daily workflows.
The response to specific interventions has been encouraging. Nithya Dhamak of Mirzapur, a farmer, said: “We really liked the crate-based vegetable technology. If available, we would definitely want to get it.”
At community sessions held in Cholapur in April, as part of the pilot, officers of the Department of Horticulture, and the Deputy Director, Agriculture were present to speak in detail about methods to reduce post harvest losses and the need for farmers to adopt these practices that can help increase farmer incomes.
Follow the journey of this pilot through our video series.
At our recent Governing Council (GC) meeting, the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) focused on its next strategic chapter: moving from standalone programs towards a more connected, outcome-driven ecosystem.
The discussion, led by MIF founder Mr. Harsh Mariwala and attended by our Governing Chairperson Amit Chandra alongside our council members Sam Balsara, Ashu Suyash, Ravi Mariwala, Rajiv Kumar, Dr. Ashish Lele, Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Sakshi Chopra along with team MIF centered on creating deeper linkages between our flagship programs Scale-Up and Indian innovation Icons and sectoral initiatives in the agri, plastics, waste management and circularity.
The aim is to help innovation move more effectively from discovery to field-level deployment.
Look out for more from the MIF team on this journey ahead.
April 2 also marked Marico’s Foundation Day, offering a moment to reflect on the journey of building an institution with clarity of purpose.
Marico Chairman and MIF Founder Mr. Harsh Mariwala has often emphasised that building a business requires clear values, long-term thinking, and the willingness to keep evolving. That journey is set to reach a wider audience, with Almighty Motion Picture adapting ‘Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico’, a story of entrepreneurial resilience into a screen project.
April 22 was Earth Day. The theme this year, “Our Power, Our Planet”, serves as a clarion call that environmental protection depends on people choosing to act. At MIF, this aligns with our work in scaling sustainable innovations that can move from individual ingenuity to wider industry impact.
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Implementation, demonstrations and farmer feedback take center stage in the latest phase of Marico Innovation Foundation’s Agri-Tech Pilot
Agriculture, circularity, climate partnerships and long-term institutional building were in focus for Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) this month.
Scaling ideas, strengthening systems, and turning innovation into action across farms and climate platforms in India.
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