Cargill plans to launch “Digital Saathi” for farmers in India

Date:06-06-2022

Cargill India Pvt Ltd, a unit of the privately-held US-based international meals firm Cargill, plans to construct a enterprise mannequin “finally” with its digital platform “Digital Saathi” by going nationwide over the following 5 years, says the corporate’s prime official.

“Digital Saathi was launched on a small scale 7-8 months in the past. We kicked off the platform to make our entry into the digital platform and see how farmers reply. We wished to see how the platform might assist small farmers in small areas when it comes to entry to data and data in the marketplace,” mentioned Simon George, President, Cargill India. 

The corporate is just not taking a look at being profitable from the digital platform now as it’s “undoubtedly taking a look at aligning with the federal government initiative to enhance farmers’ revenue,” he informed BusinessLine in an internet interview.

Restricted menu, massive software

The digital platform will cowl a variety of features within the coming years. “We started with a restricted menu and are rising it daily. It will likely be an enormous software that may assist the farmer to make the suitable selections,” the Cargill India chief mentioned. 

At the moment, 30,000 farmers are related to the platform, and a “massive step has been achieved by launching operations on it”. “On the finish of the day, we’re taking a look at numerous farmers and its growth,” he mentioned.

At the moment, Cargill’s digital platform or app is working “particularly” within the Karnataka market, predominantly within the Davanagere, Haveri, and Mysuru areas. “We began with one crop—corn (maize)—and will likely be increasing it to a few quickly. We launched the platform with maize for our consolation,” George mentioned.

Making sense 

The US meals main’s Indian arm has a modernised corn milling plant at Davanagere, whereas its operations are in Mysuru. “Each mixed make sense to present worth to our clients. We will likely be launching just a few extra agri-products. Our crew is finalising them and our final intention is to go nationwide, “he mentioned.

The time of going nationwide and the features that may make the platform are a part of a five-year plan, the Cargill India chief mentioned. However “it’s a pleasure to see how farmers are embracing the change and the glee of their faces” since they will resolve what they wish to do.

Requested if farmers have grow to be snug dealing with smartphones, George mentioned, “From a excessive altitude view, we see how corporations like Jio have moved into rural areas. India is the fastest-growing smartphone market on the earth, with one other 500-600 million folks shifting to those telephones within the subsequent couple of years. However is everybody snug? I don’t consider so.”

Agri Physician

Dwelling on the options of the digital platform, he mentioned certainly one of them is “Agri Physician,” which helps farmers sort out crop harm very early if a photograph of the plant is loaded onto the app. “Inside a matter of some hours, farmers will likely be knowledgeable about the issue and a treatment will likely be steered. It helps farmers to appropriate shortly and thus improve the yield,” George mentioned. 

Cargill deliberate so as to add extra such options and transfer ahead from the 45–50 per cent of lively customers presently on the platform. The corporate believes that quickly everybody will likely be taking an lively curiosity because the app will present particulars on climate, inputs, and ailments. 

“We’ll advise farmers on what to sow, when, and what fertiliser and pesticide to make use of. For fertiliser and pesticides, we are going to solely give the chemical title after which present them with the alternatives to make use of. It will likely be a a lot deeper training of the farmer than now,” he mentioned.

Read the full story on BusinessLine