Special Startup Series: NeerX integrates deep tech to enhance crop science

The surge in global population has intensified the pressure on natural resources, resulting into unprecedented challenges for agriculture sector such as mismatch between demand and availability of enough food; adapting to climate change; and resource constraints.

Coming up with pioneering digital solutions to address such challenges is the Ahmedabad based NeerX Technovation, an agri-tech startup that is working on the intersection of crop science and deep technology—a synergy that promises to revolutionize farming practices. Founded in September 2019 by Harsh Agrawal and Nikita Tiwari, the startup is driven by a shared vision to revolutionize agriculture through technology.

NeerX’s exponential growth is evident in its extensive reach, with operations spanning over 4 countries and 10 states in India. Collaborating with over 100 organizations and positively impacting the lives of more than 50,000 farmers, NeerX has firmly established itself as a frontrunner in the agritech industry, poised for even greater achievements in the days to come.

The inspiring journey

Nikita Tiwari and Harsh Agrawal embarked on a transformative journey when they co-founded  NeerX  at the youthful age of 23. Their visionary approach to revolutionizing climate-smart agriculture has earned them widespread acclaim, including recognition in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2023. With a distinct ‘Made in India’ ethos, they have propelled agritech into a new era of innovation and efficiency. While Nikita’s familial roots in agriculture provided her with a natural connection to farming communities, Harsh, despite being born and brought up in an urban area, demonstrated a profound understanding of farmers’ pain points. Their encounters with real-world farming issues ignited a shared passion, culminating in the birth of NeerX.

The primary challenges faced by NeerX included the complexity of integrating advanced technology into traditional farming practices and ensuring affordability for small-scale farmers. “To overcome these, we invested heavily in R&D to create cost-effective solutions and partnered with local agricultural universities for creating awareness. We also adopted a flexible business model, offering both hardware sales and software subscriptions to suit various financial capabilities. Our key focus areas include enhancing crop productivity, optimizing resource use, and improving farmer profitability through technology,” says Harsh Agrawal, Co-Founder and Director, NeerX.

Navigating through personal and professional challenges, Nikita and Harsh’s dedication remained unwavering. Despite societal skepticism and familial expectations, particularly for Nikita as a female entrepreneur, they persevered, transforming their college project into a game-changing industrial-level product. Their resilience and resourcefulness propelled NEERX to remarkable heights, with their technology now making a significant impact across multiple countries and states in India.

Turning point in NeerX Journey  

The collaboration with ISRO and validation for the company’s flagship product, SHOOL – a state-of-the-art crop and soil monitoring technology was a major achievement for it. Unlike many other companies that rely solely on above-the-ground data, NEERX harnesses the power of below-ground data from soil, which is often overlooked but immensely valuable. With SHOOL sensors boasting over 97% accuracy and offline functionality, coupled with a user-friendly mobile app, farmers gain access to tailored insights spanning crop growth, irrigation forecasts, nutrient profiles, and optimal spray timings.

Innovative product pipeline

The product journey began with the development of SHOOL, a state-of-the-art handheld soil sensor validated by ISRO, aimed at providing farmers with precise, data-driven insights. The sensor helps farmers save up to 50% on water usage and 20% on inputs, resulting in a 25% income increase. With over 10,000 users across 12 states, NeerX has received significant recognition, including the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2023 and awards from NITI Aayog and NASSCOM. The startup also secured an INR 20 lakh grant from the Startup Gujarat Scheme.

The other product offering includes NeerX App, a mobile application offering tailored insights on crop growth, irrigation forecasts, nutrient profiles, and stress maps. The third product is Corporate Dashboard: A scalable solution for agribusinesses to manage multiple farms.

“Our digital products are unique due adaptive crop models which understands each farm uniquely and then provide actionable insights. The app features color-coded stress maps and predictive models tailored to specific crops and regions, making complex data easily understandable for farmers. Even on the SHOOL sensor we have a complete offline functionality that doesn’t need any internet as compared to other sensors available in the market,”says Nikita Tiwari, Co-Founder and Director,  NeerX.

Profound impact on agri ecosystem

NeerX and SHOOL have significantly impacted the agricultural sector by enhancing resource efficiency and farmer incomes. For example, farmers using SHOOL have reported up to 50% water savings and a 25% increase in income. In one case, a farmer in Gujarat was able to reduce fertilizer use by 20% and achieve a higher yield by following the app’s nutrient recommendations, demonstrating the practical benefits of our technology.

In order to address the bottlenecks such as illiteracy and disinterest, the company employs a multi-faceted approach starting with awareness through partnering with agricultural universities and local cooperatives to educate farmers. To promote accessibility, it has designed intuitive user interfaces and providing support in local languages. In terms of affordability, it is offering best pricing on SHOOL, including freemium software subscriptions, and leveraging phygital channels for product distribution.

Way Forward

The company is targeting the vast market of fruit and vegetable farmers in India, estimated at 20-30 million farmers. In the long-term, it aims to capture 10% of this segment, translating to 5-7 lakh farmers. Its revenue expectations include robust growth driven by hardware sales and software subscriptions, with anticipated strong margins.

The key partners of the company include agricultural universities, local cooperatives, and government bodies. The customers range from Governments of Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and institutions such as IITs, ISRO, Agri-Universities, Agri-input companies, small farmers to large agribusinesses.

“We are currently in the process of raising funds to expand our team, enhance R&D, and scale our product offerings. We are also trying to find strategic investors to forge a long-term collaboration,” informs Harsh Agrawal.

Outlining his future vision, Agrawal adds, “In the next five years, we envision NeerX becoming a leading provider of agricultural technology solutions in India and beyond. We aim to continuously innovate, expand our product portfolio, and enhance our market presence. Our goal is to positively impact millions of farmers, driving sustainable agricultural practices and significantly improving productivity and profitability.”

As we look to the future, it’s clear that the marriage of crop science and deep tech will be essential in meeting the world’s growing food demands. And the NeerX is right on the track.

*The story was first published in the September 2024 issue of BioVoice eMagazine.