Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF)

District

Latur

Chhatarpur

Sagar

Panna

Rewa

Satna

Yavatmal

Washim

Wardha

Nanded

Jalna

Nashik

Damoh

Amravati

Mahisagar

Ahmednagar

States

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Objective: Develop a cadre of Agri-Entrepreneurs to support 92,000 smallholder farmers by providing market access and financial services.

Phase I of the project (July 2022–June 2025) has demonstrated substantial success with over ₹551 Cr worth of rural business transactions. Phase II, recently approved and extended until March 2028, builds on this foundation to deepen impact, scale outreach, and address the emerging needs of AEs and smallholder farmers.

Key Highlights
• 1,950 active AEs across Maharashtra, serving 1.7 lakh farmers.
• ₹551+ Cr worth of transactions facilitated through 18 archetypes:
• ₹25+ Cr in government entitlements and ₹40+ Cr in credit linkages facilitated.
• Over 15,000 soil samples tested, and 17,496 farmers engaged in demonstration techniques.
• 8,962 farmer meetings conducted, strengthening farmer engagement.
• Farmers adopting micro-irrigation (87%) and digital banking (93%) showed significant improvements in productivity and financial access.

District

Vidisha

Dindori

Mandla

Umaria

Jabalpur

States

Madhya Pradesh

A cohort of 23 Agri-Entrepreneurs have been trained and 22 are already active in supporting crop advisory, agri-input supply, and market linkages. The project focuses on three key clusters: Ashwagandha (Vidisha), Oilseeds (Jabalpur & Umaria), and Sericulture (Mandla & Dindori), promoting a value chain approach from production to market.

Objective: To implement crop diversification strategies that enhance agricultural productivity, improve socio-economic conditions, and support overall regional development.

Key Highlights:
• 23 AEs trained; 22 incubated and operational in agri-input, output linkages, and extension services.
• Crop Diversification achieved on 187.23hectares, including-Ashwagandha, Oilseeds, Sericulture
• 367 farmers registered on MP Kisan Portal.
• Market linkages in Ashwangandha and oilseeds formalized through 9 traders and 3 companies.

District

Lakhimpur

Hardoi

States

Uttar Pradesh

Under this initiative, 206 Agri-Entrepreneurs were trained and certified across eight blocks spanning four sugar mill command areas. AEs offer machinery rental services, advisory support, and promote government schemes such as PM-KUSUM (for solar irrigation), beekeeping, intercropping, mushroom cultivation, and vermicomposting.

Objective: To train and certify 200 AEs who provide diverse agricultural services, including farm mechanization, to approximately 25,000 smallholder farmers in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Highlights:
• 206 Agri-Entrepreneurs trained and certified.
• ₹12.5 Cr revenue generated through mechanization services.
• ₹3.6 Cr additional revenue from ancillary activities like beekeeping and intercropping.
• 140 AEs engaged in diversified non-farm activities.
• 28,000+ farmers benefited through affordable mechanization and advisory support.
• 1.5 lakh total mechanization hours delivered.
• 1,711 tokens facilitated for government welfare;685 disbursed.

District

Rayagada

Nuapada

Kalahandi

Nabarangpur

States

Odisha

The primary goal was to transition 12,000 farmers across 7,000 hectares in Odisha from traditional continuous flooding methods to AWD and DSR techniques. These methods are expected to reduce water requirements, lower methane emissions from rice fields, and decrease labor needs without impacting the overall rice yield.

Objective: The primary goal is to transition 12,000 farmers across 7,000 hectares in Odisha from traditional continuous flooding methods to AWD and DSR techniques. These methods are expected to reduce water requirements, lower methane emissions from rice fields, and decrease labor needs without impacting the overall rice yield.

Key Highlights:
• 1,328 farmers benefitted, covering 7,416 acres.
• 23 AEs and local agents trained to lead adoption.
• AWD reduced water use and methane emissions; DSR reduced labor needs and improved cost efficiency.
• Community-level sensitization and GHG impact assessments initiated.

District

Thanjavur

States

Tamil Nadu

Under its commitment to sustainable agriculture, Marico’s Parachute Kalpavriksha Foundation (PKF) partnered with the Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF) to pilot an agri-entrepreneurship model in coconut-growing regions of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The project aims to build a network of 50 local entrepreneurs offering services related to organic manure, crop advisory, farm mechanization, and sustainable coconut farming.
Objective:
To develop 50 Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, with a focus on sustainable farming practices, coconut-based value chains, and market linkage to enhance farm productivity and rural livelihoods.
• 50 AEs targeted; 62 AEs trained.
- Coverage of 45 villages across 4 blocks of Thanjavur
• Business archetypes include:
- Organic input and manure distribution
- Coconut-specific crop advisory services
- Mechanization and tool rentals fofor coconut farming
- Project designed to enhance value-added services and rural income in coconut.

District

Gonda

States

Uttar Pradesh

Under the PANI initiative, a total of 80 CRP-EP members were trained as Agri-Entrepreneurs (AEs) in Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh. The training focused on equipping participants with knowledge in agri-input services, farm advisory, and enterprise development to strengthen last-mile service delivery and promote self-reliant rural economies.

Objective:
To enhance rural livelihoods by training community members in agri-entrepreneurship.