India’s agricultural sector is the backbone of its economy and the lifeline for millions. Yet, for small and marginal farmers, the journey is filled with daily struggles, low productivity, outdated tools, unpredictable markets, and a lack of tailored support. To solve these pressing challenges, we need more than just technology. We need innovation that begins in the fields, with the farmers themselves.
That’s exactly where AgriDISQovery 2.0 comes in a national-level challenge designed to discover, nurture, and scale impactful agri-tech innovations. This program is launched by Sahyadri Farms’ On-Farm Incubation Center in collaboration with Digital Impact Square (a TCS Foundation Initiative), Startup India, and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.
It’s not just about building solutions for farmers. It’s about co-creating solutions with them.
What is AgriDISQovery 2.0?
AgriDISQovery 2.0 is a unique, Free 90-days on-farm incubation program that places selected startups right in the middle of the agricultural ecosystem on the farms of Sahyadri in Nashik, Maharashtra. Here, innovation happens side by side with the farming community, not from behind a desk.
Throughout the program, selected teams will:
- Discover real problems faced by farmers.
- Build user-friendly and scalable solutions.
- Validate their ideas in live field environments.
- Pilot their innovations directly with farming communities.
This deep, field-based learning helps ensure that solutions are not only innovative but practical, sustainable, and rooted in real farmer needs
Who Should Apply?
AgriDISQovery 2.0 is open to:
- Early-stage startups, innovators, and agri-tech entrepreneurs.
- FPOs, and social enterprises focused on agriculture.
- Anyone passionate about solving real agricultural problems through hands-on, impactful innovation.
Whether you’re working on your prototype or already have a minimum viable product (MVP), this program gives you the opportunity to build, test, and scale your idea directly within the farming ecosystem.
Focus Areas for 2025:
In 2025, AgriDISQovery 2.0 will focus on three important areas that can make a big difference in how farming is done in India:
- Farm Mechanization: This includes building low-cost, easy-to-use machines and tools that help reduce the physical effort farmers put in every day. The goal is to make farming faster, more efficient, and less dependent on manual labor.
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: This area encourages the use of smart technology like sensors, data tools, and robotics that help farmers make better decisions like when to water crops, how much fertilizer to use, and how to improve productivity with fewer resources.
- Renewable Energy and Biofuels: Here, the focus is on finding clean and affordable energy options for farms. This includes solar-powered equipment or biofuels made from farm waste that can help reduce electricity bills and pollution while promoting sustainability in rural areas.These areas have been selected because of their strong potential to address critical farming issues and bring long-term improvements to Indian agriculture.
What Will You Gain from This Program?
AgriDISQovery 2.0 offers much more than just mentorship. it gives you real opportunities to grow, test, and scale your ideas with full support.
Financial Support:
- Grants released in stages, based on your progress and achievements.
- Funds to help you build, test, and improve your solution.
Non-Financial Support:
- Access to a network of over 25,000+ farmers and 70+ FPOs.Real-time testing in actual farm environments.
- Mentorship from agriculture, tech, and business experts.
- Support in team-building, market validation, and investor readiness.
- Collaboration with peers and guidance from institutional partners.
Support Doesn’t End Here:
The journey doesn’t stop after the incubation phase. Teams with strong ideas and real impact potential can continue to receive guidance and support from trusted partners like Social Alpha, UnLtd India, and organizations within the TATA Group network. This ongoing support can help them strengthen their solutions, connect with the right people, and take their innovations to more farmers across the country.
Important Dates to Remember:
Application Deadline: August 10, 2025
Program Duration: 90-days on-farm incubation
Location: Sahyadri Farms, Nashik, Maharashtra
The 12-week bootcamp is designed to refine your strategy and strengthen your MVP. The final 90 days are all about field-testing, piloting with farmers, and preparing for real-world implementation.
Why This Program Matters:
In India, farming is more than a profession. It’s a way of life. For millions of small and marginal farmers, the land is not just their workplace, but their identity. Yet, they continue to face deep-rooted challenges: outdated practices, low productivity, limited access to technology, and rising costs.
AgriDISQovery 2.0 recognizes that solving these problems needs more than just good ideas — it needs real understanding. This program gives innovators the chance to step into the farmer’s world, experience their challenges firsthand, and co-create practical solutions that actually work in the field.
What makes AgriDISQovery 2.0 truly special is its focus on real impact. It’s a program for those who want to build change not from a desk, but from the soil up. If you’re ready to make a difference where it truly matters, this is the place to begin.
How to Apply:
If you’re ready to bring real change to the fields of India, this is your moment.
Apply here: Click Here
Last date to apply: August 10, 2025
