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  • How AI, drones and government policy could shape the future of Indian agriculture

    How AI, drones and government policy could shape the future of Indian agriculture
    2026/09/29
    What will the next phase of Indian agriculture look like? In this episode of businessline’s Agrispective podcast, Soumyak Biswas, Partner, Food and Agribusiness, Government Advisory, BDO India, joins Subramani Ra Mancombu to discuss how AI, machine learning, drones and mechanisation could influence the future of farming in India. The discussion looks at farm productivity and farmer incomes, precision agriculture, climate resilience, crop diversification and the growing role of technology in agriculture. Biswas also discusses electric farm equipment and the government policy priorities needed to make Indian agriculture more productive and competitive.
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    20 分
  • AI, satellite data and smarter financing: The next phase of Indian agriculture | Agrispective, EP-13

    AI, satellite data and smarter financing: The next phase of Indian agriculture | Agrispective, EP-13
    2026/09/01
    Indian agriculture is moving beyond basic farmer-facing apps to a new era driven by artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, GIS-based crop intelligence and data-led decision-making. In this episode of Agrispective, Subramani Ra Mancombu speaks with Amith Agarwal, Co-founder & CEO, StarAgri, about how technology is reshaping the agricultural value chain.Agarwal explains how AI and digital intelligence are helping farmers make better crop choices, improve productivity, strengthen traceability and gain access to formal financing through more accurate risk assessments. He discusses the growing role of satellite data in monitoring crop health, estimating production and supporting agricultural lending through farmer scorecards built on historical crop and transaction data. The conversation also explores the outlook for the current kharif season, with Agarwal expecting production to be 5-7% lower than last year due to weather-related challenges and the need for more accurate forecasting tools. He highlights how warehouse receipt financing and collateral management can help farmers avoid distress sales, wait for better market prices and improve returns on their produce. (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu; Producers: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy, Siddharth Mathew Cherian)
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    9 分
  • Agrispective | EP 12 | Are milk prices curdling under supply pressure?

    Agrispective | EP 12 | Are milk prices curdling under supply pressure?
    2026/07/29
    In this episode of businessline’s Agrispective podcast, Subramani Ra Mancombu speaks with Srideep Kesavan, CEO of Heritage Foods, on the factors driving the recent rise in milk prices and the outlook for India’s dairy sector. The discussion unpacks how a persistent gap between supply and demand, declining animal productivity, and rising input costs have pushed prices higher over the past five quarters. The impact of an erratic monsoon, including a rainfall deficit of around 25 per cent, and its cascading effect on fodder availability and production is also examined. Despite these challenges, dairy companies are leaning on value-added products and working closely with farmers to sustain output, even as higher costs are gradually passed on to consumers. Tune in for insights into how the sector is navigating climate pressures and inflationary trends. (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu, Producers: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy)
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    19 分
  • Agrispective | Episode 11 | Palm oil in focus: balancing food security, sustainability, and farmer prosperity in India

    Agrispective | Episode 11 | Palm oil in focus: balancing food security, sustainability, and farmer prosperity in India
    2026/06/09
    India imports nearly 10 million tonnes of palm oil each year—making it a cornerstone of the country’s food system and a subject of intense debate. In this episode of Businessline’s Agrispective Podcast, host Subramani Ra Mancombu speaks with Sumit Roy, Assistant General Manager, Palm Oil Programme at Solidaridad Asia, to unpack the complexities surrounding this widely used yet controversial commodity. As Sumit Roy emphasises, “the priority should be responsible production—enforcing no deforestation, no peat, no exploitation, while improving yields rather than expanding cultivation.” The episode also explores India’s growing influence in shaping global supply chains, the importance of traceability and sustainable sourcing, and how consumer awareness is driving change. Reinforcing the big picture, Roy notes that “sustainability, food security, and inclusive growth are not conflicting—they go hand in hand when palm oil is produced responsibly.” Tune in for a nuanced discussion on how India can lead the way in creating a palm oil ecosystem that supports both people and the planet. (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu; Producer: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy , Siddharth MC)
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    12 分
  • Agrispective|EP 10| India’s agri crossroads: Growth, gaps and the road ahead

    Agrispective|EP 10| India’s agri crossroads: Growth, gaps and the road ahead
    2026/05/29
    In this episode of BusinessLine’s Agrispective podcast, host Subramani Ra Mancombu explores the evolving landscape of Indian agriculture with M Ramakrishnan, Managing Director at Primus Partners. India’s farm sector continues to be the backbone of the economy—supporting over half the workforce and delivering record-breaking production in key crops like rice, wheat, and maize. But beneath these achievements lies a pressing question: Is the focus shifting from sheer output to sustainable productivity and farmer prosperity?Ramakrishnan offers a grounded perspective on the productivity gap—highlighting how India’s yields still lag global benchmarks despite significant investments. The conversation dives into the mixed response of farmers—some driven by market opportunities and export potential, while others remain tied to policy structures like MSP and traditional practices.A key theme is the disconnect between agri-innovation and on-ground adoption. Despite the availability of cutting-edge solutions—from AI-based advisories to IoT-enabled soil monitoring—adoption remains low due to fragmented landholdings, affordability constraints, and last-mile challenges. The episode also tackles a critical issue: farmer incomes. Even as agricultural production rises, income growth remains limited. (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu; Producers: Siddharth MC, Renil S Varghese)
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    11 分
  • Agrispective|EP 09| From West Asia tensions to farm inputs: How global shocks are reshaping India’s agrochemical sector

    Agrispective|EP 09| From West Asia tensions to farm inputs: How global shocks are reshaping India’s agrochemical sector
    2026/04/30
    In this episode of the BusinessLine Agrospective Podcast, Subramani Ra Mancombu speaks with Ankur Aggarwal, chairman of CropLife India and executive chairman & managing director of Crystal Crop Protection ltd, on how geopolitical tensions are impacting global agrochemical supply chains, raw material availability and input costs for farmers. The Indian agrochemical and agri-input sector is navigating heightened uncertainty amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, rising energy and freight costs, disrupted trade routes, and evolving domestic regulations. Aggarwal explains why price pressures may ease but not fully revert, outlines the limited long-term impact on India’s ₹40,000-crore agrochemical exports despite higher logistics costs, and discusses the government’s proactive engagement with industry during the crisis. The conversation also looks at how Indian companies can move up the value chain from generics to innovation-led products, the importance of regulatory data protection, and the way forward for India’s pesticide management framework. The discussion concludes with looking at science-backed, regulated pesticide use, tackling counterfeit products, and explaining why collaboration between government and industry is critical for sustainable, high-productivity agriculture.
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    10 分
  • Agrispective | EP 08 | ₹1 lakh crore loss: Fixing India’s farm to market gaps

    Agrispective | EP 08 | ₹1 lakh crore loss: Fixing India’s farm to market gaps
    2026/03/23
    In this episode of businessline’s Agrispective Podcast, host Subramani Ra Mancombu talks to Soumyak Biswas, Partner, BDO India, on how India can reduce post-harvest losses from farm to market. Biswas explains that losses of ₹90,000 to ₹1 lakh crore arise across harvesting, handling, storage, transport and processing, and stresses the need to address the entire value chain together. He highlights the challenges posed by fragmented smallholder farming, limited infrastructure and low private investment, and points to the role of Farmer Producer Organisations in aggregation and value addition. The discussion also covers the future of food processing in India, the importance of technology, and the need for stronger policies, infrastructure support and blended finance to build a more efficient agricultural ecosystem.
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    16 分
  • Agrispective | EP 07 | Per Drop More Crop: Is India missing out with just 15–17% micro irrigation coverage?

    Agrispective | EP 07 | Per Drop More Crop: Is India missing out with just 15–17% micro irrigation coverage?
    2026/02/25
    In this episode of businessline’s Agrispective Podcast, host Subramani M R speaks with Ramesh Ramachandran, MD & CEO of Mahindra AgriSolutions and MD of Mahindra EPC Irrigation. They discuss how technology is reshaping Indian agriculture. Ramachandran highlights the impact of biotech-driven, climate-resilient seed varieties and early-duration crops that boost farmer incomes. The discussion covers IoT-enabled irrigation, automated farm workflows, and drone-based spraying. A key focus is micro-irrigation, which improves yields and water-use efficiency. Ramachandran also examines the shift to higher-value horticulture and the role of corporates in building integrated value chains and driving sustainable growth in Indian farming. (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu, Producers: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy)
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    36 分