Agri-Next to support 150 start

In a major initiative to accelerate technology-led transformation in agriculture, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has launched Agri-Next, a ₹38-crore programme to support 150 agritech startups under the World Bank-assisted Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernisation (KERA) Project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between innovation and farming by enabling startups to take cutting-edge technologies directly to farmers across Kerala.

The programme is designed to improve agricultural productivity, reduce cultivation costs, promote climate-resilient farming practices, strengthen market linkages and enhance farmers’ incomes through technology-based interventions. It offers startups a unique opportunity to validate and scale their innovations through field pilots in collaboration with farmers and agricultural institutions.

Selected startups will receive financial assistance of up to ₹25 lakh, besides mentoring, incubation support, access to farmer networks and opportunities for field demonstrations. The long-term objective is to develop a sustainable, technology-driven and globally competitive agricultural ecosystem in the State.

Agri-Next is expected to emerge as one of the country’s largest collaborative initiatives linking agritech startups with farmers. Startups working in areas such as precision farming, drone technology, artificial intelligence, smart irrigation, farm mechanisation, crop protection, post-harvest processing and storage, value addition, agritech-fintech solutions and climate-smart agriculture are eligible to participate.

The technologies developed by the selected startups will be deployed through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), agricultural institutions and field-level agencies, enabling practical validation under real farming conditions while demonstrating their commercial viability and scalability.

Officials at the Kerala Startup Mission said that the initiative marks a shift towards demand-driven agricultural innovation by encouraging startups to develop solutions based on farmers’ real needs. The programme is expected to strengthen the rural economy while promoting sustainable and technology-enabled agricultural growth. Agritech startups from across the country can participate in the initiative, with selected enterprises to be connected with farmer networks in a phased manner for field-level implementation.

Startups may visit https://agrinext.startupmission.in for details.