KhetiGaadi: Taking Farm Machinery to a Simple Click

Smruthi Krishnan — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:35:03 +0000

Ideas can come from anything around you, be it a taxicab, retail stores or even farm tractors. Drawing inspiration from farm machinery and tractors, Pravin Shinde and Vishnu Dhas founded Khetigaadi.com; the world’s pioneer website for buying, selling, renting, comparing and reviewing tractors and farm machinery. Established in 2016, KhetiGaadi is headquartered in Pune and aims to induce the use of technology and hi-tech products in agriculture to maximise yield with less labour and more farm mechanization.

How does KhetiGaadi work?

Being an agritech company, KhetiGaadi is built on high-tech angular technology with high safety measures to ensure trust within farmers who are often doubtful of engaging with such online platforms. As most farmers are usually well versed in their local languages, KhetiGaadi has made their app available in 10 different languages and their website in 3 different languages which include English, Hindi and Marathi. This leads to more belief in the company and results in more traction as the farmers feel more connected and secure with the company making the platform user friendly. The concept is compatible with iOS as well as Android. The ag-tech start-up has created a one-stop platform for farmers, tractor manufacturers, contractors, dealers, brokers, service providers and agricultural experts to connect and trade in an agricultural e-commerce marketplace.

Through the app, farmers can compare and review different types of farm machinery, especially different tractors. Farmers can read reviews by other farmers and experts on various brands and make an informed decision. Farmers and producers can also sell old and new tractors and rent out tractors and machinery. The platform also helps in terms of loans and insurances by matching farmers with agri-lenders and farm insurance providers. Their mobile app has recorded 3.5 lakh installs across platforms. The app and website both provide information related to dealerships, service centres, agricultural universities and farm mechanisation centres near them. Via their KhetiGuru app, they keep farmers up-to-date with agricultural news, methods of farming including land preparation and crop protection. They also provide updates on weather changes that affect harvest season, etc. The website also publishes useful blogs in 3 different languages that supply farmers with an abundance of information primarily related to new technologies and fresh methods of farming.

What can one learn from KhetiGaadi?

KhetiGaadi provides a unique one-stop solution for farmers across India when it comes to farm mechanisation from creating awareness about farming technology, creating a market for tractors and a platform for agricultural financial aid and insurance. Instead of going for a large client base, they focused on the farming community as their target audience and optimised on the same. The founders understood the lack of access to technology experienced by their clients and thus provided a niche platform where they could review and compare and understand from fellow farmers and experts. The multilingual app and website provide an added advantage of reaching out to a larger audience. Knowing your audience and their problems and needs is very important when it comes to starting a venture. Research deeper into the area you wish to set your business in, comprehend your clientele’s issues and come up with unique solutions to tackle the obstacles in an easy yet sustainable manner.

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Who Is Adar C. Poonawalla?

Aakash Sharma — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 00:35:02 +0000

Adar C. Poonawalla is the 40-year-old Chief Executive Officer of Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally. It ranks as the number one biotechnology company of India with numbers tallying as more than 170 countries across the globe using the vaccine made by Cyrus Poonawalla Group. In 1966 Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla founded Serum Institute of India (SII) with the aim of manufacturing life-saving immuno-biologicals in India.

Serum Institute of India is now the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses) which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines.

It is estimated that about 65% of the children in the world receive at least one vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute. Vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute are accredited by the World Health Organization, Geneva and are being used in around 170 countries across the globe in their national immunization programs, saving millions of lives throughout the world.

Adar Poonawalla: The Journey

Adar Poonawalla graduated from the University of Westminster in London and joined the Serum Institute of India in 2001. After exporting its products to 35 countries, Poonawalla focused on its international market and received a new product license and a prequalification from the World Health Organization for supply to the United Nations agencies, including UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization.

A path-breaking acquisition – In 2011, he became CEO of the Serum Institute and took full control of its daily activities. Serum Institute of India made its first International acquisition by acquiring Bilthoven Biologicals, a bioengineering and pharmaceutical company from The Netherlands Government on 29th June 2012. Adar since taking charge of his family’s vaccine business in 2011 expanded Serum’s global footprint by getting new products licensed and pre-qualified by the World Health Organization for supply to United Nations Agencies including UNICEF and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization).

The takeover of Bilthoven Biological ensurd access to technology and expertise for making the IPV (Injectable Polio Vaccine, Salk), earlier possessed by only 3 other vaccine manufacturers. The acquisition enhances Serum Institute’s offerings in the paediatric vaccine segment and with this Serum Institute hopes to make a significant contribution to the eradication of Polio from the World. The takeover also provides an important manufacturing base in Europe, with access to strategic European Markets.

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It is estimated that about 65% of the children in the world receive at least one vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute.

COVID-19 Vaccine Development – Biggest Challenge of Adar Poonawalla’s Lifetime

Adar decided in mid-2020 that his company would produce 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine whenever it was ready. He pledged $250 million (Rs 1.1845 crores) for this goal. This put him on the COVID-19 vaccine map as India’s leading player in the fight to ensure adequate and affordable vaccines.

To develop a vaccine for COVID-19, the Serum Institute, led by Poonawala, partnered with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to form AZD1222 in collaboration with the University of Oxford. The Serum Institute is reportedly providing 100 million doses of vaccine to India and other low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated to be priced at Rs 225 (approximately $3) per dose.

In December 2020, the Serum Institute of India requested emergency authorization for a vaccine developed with AstraZeneca from the Indian Government, which was approved a month later.

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