Agri Mechanization Challenge
BAIF CARES and EarthON Foundation have launched Greenovation Agri Mechanization Challenge for startups and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs/FPCs). The Challenge identifies, supports, and scales climate-friendly innovations that enhance productivity, reduce drudgery, and improve efficiency across India’s agricultural value chains.
The Challenge operates through two parallel tracks: a Startup & SME Track for early-stage innovators and social entrepreneurs, and an FPC (Farmer Producer Company) Track for registered FPOs.
Solutions we are looking for
Farm Mechanization and Equipment
Smallholder-friendly farm equipment and machinery
Dairy and Livestock Systems
Livestock feed and nutrition innovations; cattle health and monitoring solutions
Natural Resource Management
Agri-waste recycling and waste-to-value innovations; biogas and circular agriculture solutions
Post-Harvest Value Chain Systems
Storage, grading, and primary processing infrastructure; aggregation and market linkage solutions.
Water Resource Management
Borewell recharge and groundwater restoration solutions; water table mapping and monitoring technologies
Program Outcomes
- Development of scalable and replicable models that improve agricultural productivity, operational efficiency, and farmer income enhancement.
- Improved post-harvest management, processing, and market linkages leading to reduced losses and stronger value-chain integration.
- Strengthened capacity of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and rural institutions to sustainably deliver mechanization, aggregation, and value-chain services.
- Increased adoption of climate-resilient, labour-saving, and inclusive agricultural solutions through community-based and shared-access delivery models.
- Strengthened organizational readiness and market orientation of participating FPOs. This can be achieved through structured post-challenge capacity building, enabling them to adopt, deploy, and sustain mechanization and value-chain solutions at scale within their membership communities.
Eligibility Criteria
Startups and SMEs
- Registered startup or SME incorporated within the last 10 years
- Full-time founders
- The product or solution should be relevant to rural or peri-urban agriculture
- Open to applicants across India
Farmer Producer Companies
- Registered Farmer Producer Organizations (FPC/FPO)
- Operational for at least 2 years
- Active farmer membership with experience in aggregation or custom hiring
- Open to applicants in Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh
Benefits
Startups and SMEs
- Challenge Prize of Rs 20 lakh in non-dilutive catalytic funding for prototype development and testing.
- 3-day capacity building and residential bootcamp for shortlisted startups covering technical, operational, and strategic skills.
- Investor Demo Day for visibility and networking with policy influencers/ makers, investors, and industry leaders.
- Incubation support from BAIF CARES and downstream funding opportunities for all selected startups.
- Pilot and partnership opportunities with institutional partners like FPCs, SHGs, and the whole BAIF ecosystem.
Farmer Producer Companies
- 3-day capacity building and residential bootcamp for shortlisted startups covering technical, operational, and strategic skills.
- Challenge finale recognition for all participating FPCs through Certificates of Appreciation.
- Direct collaboration with startups to develop and test products/solutions.
- Selected FPCs participate in a structured capacity-building program following the Finale.
- High-potential participants FPCs will join the ONganic Accelerator program.
Program Partners
