Cost-effectiveness Is Most Critical Aspect In Agriculture Sector: Dr Shital Somani Kasat

While agriculture provides livelihood to more than half of India's population the farmers in India have grave challenges to face. Their problems do not end with a good harvest only, proper storage post-harvesting period is a massive challenge in the country. A lot of crops aren’t sold and eventually deteriorate because of a lack of facilities. Now, a lot of start-ups have taken a step in this direction and what is worth celebrating is many such initiatives are being driven by women.

S4S (Science for Society) Technologies was chosen as the winner of The/Nudge Prize | Cisco Agri Challenge which had called for ‘solutions to enhance the profitability of small scale farmers’.

S4S Technologies is a food preservation company powered by solar drying technology. The majority of farmers in India face the issue of proper storage post-harvesting period. S4S technologies accept grade B and grade C produce from farmers to produce preservative-free, dehydrated food having one year of shelf life. 

On why S4S stood out as a clear winner, Sudha Srinivasan, CEO, The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation said, "something that has been appreciated by the jury, mentors and others alike is S4S's technology's presence across the value chain; the benefit of which is eventually reaped by the farmer. The fact that S4S harnesses the power of solar energy to dehydrate excess produce and benefit the farmers who suffer losses due to wastage, is commendable."

About the challenge, Srinivasan says, "The challenge has spotlighted innovative ideas that will empower India to leapfrog in developing sustainable solutions for an inclusive economy, biodiversity preservation, environmental conservation, climate change, and regenerative agriculture."

Dr Shital Somani Kasat, who is one of the seven co-founders S4S Technologies, spoke to SheThePeople about the vision behind S4S, the challenges faced by Indian farmers post-harvest and why we need cost-effective solutions for complex agricultural problems. Some edited snippets from the interview.

As a woman entrepreneur, what are some of the key challenges you have faced in starting up?

Women are expected to play a more hands-on role in managing a household and taking care of their families. Owning and running a start-up means a lot of time and energy dedication which makes it difficult to achieve a work-life balance. Parent-entrepreneurs have dual responsibilities to their businesses and their families. Managing time between two babies - the first is a start-up and another one is a small baby - is a real struggle, especially in a nuclear family.

What was your vision for S4S when you started and where have you reached with them today?

Our vision was to use our knowledge and create a sustainable technology platform for the betterment of society, and that's why we named it, "Science For Society"(S4S). We are working with women micro-entrepreneurs and small and marginal farmers, to help them earn more with our technology. So we are on the right path to achieving our vision.

A particular incident that has changed you as a leader?

Anita Kolte of Bhavadi, Maharashtra was married off to Rambhau Kolte at the age of 18. The family of five owns half an acre of rain-fed agricultural land. Anita who missed out on formal education wants to provide her children with quality education. With an annual income of Rs 40,000 to 50,000 (USD 700) that seemed a bleak possibility as it is not enough even to fulfil their basic requirements. Anita was unaware of food dehydration until S4S approached her to become a micro-entrepreneur. Training and a leap of faith are what took Anita to start earning a steady income of Rs 4,000 to 5,000 per month. As a result, her family now helps her run two batches in a day to increase their daily income so that they can send their elder son to the city for higher education.

Anita says, “If it weren’t for S4S, I don’t think I could have completed my children’s education, or dream further for their higher education.”

This incident was heart-touching.

S4S Technologies works towards ending post-harvest food wastage. Tell us more about the challenges farmers in India are facing particularly in this domain.

Poverty, lack of nutrients in the lean season, post-harvest losses, and gender inequality in rural women farmers are the key challenges of the agri-health-nutrition nexus in India.

India loses 60 million tons of agri-produce as post-harvest losses. On the other hand, India is home to one-third of the world’s malnourished children. Reducing post-harvest losses can substantially help the farmers, which are already an economically ailing community in most parts of the country, and could improve the availability of food and solve both of these problems to a great extent. Lack of electricity or unreliable electrical supply makes post-harvesting difficult and unaffordable. These multiple challenges can be tackled by an electricity-free technology that can convert food surplus into processed food. It can help to earn additional income for farmers and ensure food security to overcome the challenge of malnutrition.

 What kind of uptake have you seen among women in terms of taking up technological skills in farming?

In our experience, technological skills adoption is rapid among women farmers. Initially, it's intimidating to them sometimes, but once they start using the machines - the adoption is very quick. With training and capacity building the adoption process is accelerated. It's very critical to provide them demos, training and other women farmers, who are early adopters as role models.

Suggested Reading:

Vimeo’s Anjali Sud Back To Office After Second Baby: How Flexibility At Work Helps

We require cost-effective solutions at scale for complex agricultural problems. How can India take the lead on this?

Cost-effectiveness is the most critical aspect while working in the agriculture sector because of the customer or target audience we serve, i.e., small-holder farmers. India can take lead on this by providing technology and platforms that either help enhance the farmer's income through either processing, and storage, market linkage to distant markets, or help farmers reduce costs - helping them with affordable agri-inputs, and credit and advisory.

Unless our solution create substantial value for our farmers - it remains unaffordable for them as that involves an upfront investment from their end which in the case of marginal farmers is highly unviable as they have limited or no disposable income.

How do you think awards and acknowledgements help an entrepreneur in her journey? 

Awards and acknowledgements help us refine our model and gather feedback from experts. It also helps us present the work of our women entrepreneurs/farmers to a wider audience. In our journey - it helps us to recognise what is working and what are our blind spots. And at the end, it always adds to your motivation when you get acknowledged on a national platform.

Visit our community page here.