2021-23 | Social Venture
Entrepreneurial Course at MIT DesignX
Recognition:
Role
Co-founded Grain Box to optimize the post-harvest value chain for smallholder farmers in rural India.
Designed decentralized storage infrastructure and digital tools for real-time market connectivity.
Collaborated with community partners, government bodies, and NGOs to ensure equitable access to resources and technology for farmers.
Designed decentralized storage infrastructure and digital tools for real-time market connectivity.
Collaborated with community partners, government bodies, and NGOs to ensure equitable access to resources and technology for farmers.
Challenge
Smallholder farmers (86.2% of all farmers in India) face high post-harvest losses due to lack of storage, market access, and technological resources.
Centralized storage solutions overlook smallholder farmers, leading to food insecurity and reduced incomes.
High food wastage in India contributes to significant environmental and economic challenges.
Centralized storage solutions overlook smallholder farmers, leading to food insecurity and reduced incomes.
High food wastage in India contributes to significant environmental and economic challenges.
Solution
Develop an integrated food hub combining decentralized storage infrastructure and a digital platform:
+ Optimizes Post-Harvest Value Chain: Provides affordable, energy-efficient grain storage and real-time market access.
+ Empowers Farmers: Offers training and capacity-building to enhance market engagement.
+ Promotes Sustainability: Reduces food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions.
+ Connects Communities: Establishes entrepreneurship centers and strengthens rural economies.
+ Optimizes Post-Harvest Value Chain: Provides affordable, energy-efficient grain storage and real-time market access.
+ Empowers Farmers: Offers training and capacity-building to enhance market engagement.
+ Promotes Sustainability: Reduces food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions.
+ Connects Communities: Establishes entrepreneurship centers and strengthens rural economies.
Impact (Phase 1)
+ Conducted farmer workshops to understand post-harvest challenges and gather user insights.
+ Completed over 100 farmer interviews to identify key issues in storage, market access, and technology adoption.
+ Successfully pitched the Grain Box concept to the Agriculture Ministry of India, receiving positive feedback and interest for further collaboration.
+ Partnered with Millet Bank in Andhra Pradesh to pilot the design of decentralized storage and digital infrastructure.
+ Completed over 100 farmer interviews to identify key issues in storage, market access, and technology adoption.
+ Successfully pitched the Grain Box concept to the Agriculture Ministry of India, receiving positive feedback and interest for further collaboration.
+ Partnered with Millet Bank in Andhra Pradesh to pilot the design of decentralized storage and digital infrastructure.
Smallholder Farmers in India
Post Harvest Loss and Financial Burden
Projected Impact
