Bill Gates tests city startup’s agri tech

Chhatrapati Smabhajinagar

City-based startup Niyo FarmTech was among the top 10 startups recognized at the Greenovation Energy Challenge, with its innovative agricultural sprayers catching the attention of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. During an event at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) on Monday, Gates personally tested the company's solar-powered pesticide sprayers, marking a significant milestone for the city’s startup ecosystem.

Founded by Yogesh Gawande, a mechanical engineer and JEE drop-out, Niyo FarmTech evolved from a college project into a full-fledged venture under the mentorship of MAGIC (Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council). The startup has sold over 5,000 units of its prototype and is gaining traction in domestic and international markets. Gates assessed two of Neo FarmTech’s key products the Neo Solar Sprayer, an eco-friendly alternative to fuel-based sprayers, and the Neo Bahubali Sprayer, designed for large-scale farming. The latter is set to be included under a government subsidy scheme in April, offering a 40% discount.

Industry experts Milind Kank, Sunil Raithatha, Prasad Kokil, Ritesh Mishra, and Ashish Garde guide Neo FarmTech and this prototype has scaled its operations through collaborations with Social Alpha, CoE FASAL (STPI, IIT Kanpur, IIMCIP), and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society. Director Prasad Kokil emphasized that this recognition underscores the Make in India initiative’s impact on fostering technological advancements in agriculture. With backing from the Gates Foundation, Neo FarmTech has significantly expanded its market reach, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, providing cost-effective solutions to thousands of farmers.

Yogesh Gawande stated, "Bill Gates tested our product during an event at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and mentioned that this technology would definitely help women in agriculture, making farming equipment more accessible and easier to use for them."

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