Leads Connect, ICRISAT sign an MoU to develop sustainable solutions for agriculture

Leads Connect Services, the premier agritech data, risk management, and financial services company, in collaboration with Agribusiness and Innovation Platform-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (AIP-ICRISAT), organised a sensitisation program on marketing strategies for farmer producer organisations (FPO) in Hyderabad on April 28, 2023.

Leads Connect Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICRISAT at the event to study the dynamics of the agricultural value chain and develop sustainable solutions for all stakeholders in agriculture. The partnership aims to bridge the gaps in the agri-value chain and provide farmer-centric solutions like optimal markets for produce and fintech support.

Navneet Ravikar, chairman and managing director of Leads Connect Services, signed the MoU with Victor Afari Sefa, a citizen of Ghana who joined ICRISAT in March 2022 as director, the Global Research Program Enabling Systems Transformation, ICRISAT. LeadsConnect which is already working on Chilli, pulses and Turmeric value chain, this MOU will further open new avenues for CBBO, FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) Pan India to collaborate with Leads Connect Services to close chasms in the agri-value chain, prioritise the needs of farmers, providing better price for their produce thus empowering communities and stimulating economic growth. This collaboration with ICRISAT unlocks the potential to work in Africa as well for upliftment of the farming community.

The agritech company also launched its game-changing AGRANI app. The app is an end-to-end SaaS-based platform developed for all stakeholders in agriculture. It aims to connect all dots from farm-to-fork in the agricultural spectrum and provide farmer-first solutions using Space Tech Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. This is a part of the agritech’s initiative ‘Khet Se Kitchen Tak’, an agri value chain solution to support the farmers’ community, agri-businesses, and FPOs.

ICRISAT is a non-profit organisation that conducts agricultural research for rural development in various parts of the world. It also conducts workshops, seminars, and knowledge sessions to create awareness among the agriculture community.

"Launching AGRANI and signing the MoU was a revolutionary opportunity for us," says Navneet Ravikar, chairman and managing director of Leads Connect Services. AGRANI intends to bring farm advisory, financial services, and market linkage to the doorsteps of farmers, agribusinesses, and FPOs. It also provides timely access to finance for FPOs and agribusinesses for community infrastructure requirements like storage, processing and transportation.

Ravikar adds, "It’s a transformative value chain platform that will bring much-needed transparency to transactions held at the mandis and FPOs. Our mission is to empower and connect farm value chains to create a sustainable, scalable agribusiness ecosystem. With AGRANI, we are taking a step towards achieving this mission by providing farmer-centric solutions. And this is just the beginning. We look forward to continuing our mission of enabling farm value chains for a brighter and more profitable future."

The knowledge-based event provided an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders to enhance their professional development and establish connections. During the event, several experts and dignitaries spoke on salient innovations in agribusiness and marketing topics.

Besides Dr Victor Afari-Sefa and Navneet Ravikar, the speakers included Aravazhi Selvaraj, chief executive officer of Agribusiness and Innovation Platform at ICRISAT; Dr Sangappa from IIMR (Indian Institute of Millet Research); and Purushotham Rudraraju, manager Agribusiness, AIP ICRISAT. Tamil Selvi, senior officer of Partnership Development at AIP, delivered the vote of thanks.

Also present for the event were ICRISAT start ups and representatives from Flipkart to shed light on linking FPOs and retailing through eCommerce, respectively.