Punjab farmers will now be able to hire tractors and farm implements using their mobiles just the way city dwellers hail radio taxi services like Uber and Ola.
A pilot project is being launched in the agrarian state to allow companies and individuals rent out their tractors and equipment to a registered user who can expect the services at rates cheaper than those offered by traditional companies.
Fazilka-based Zamindara Farming Solutions hopes tractors lying idle with individuals can be put into use by networking the users and owners on a larger virtual platform.
"We are trying to evolve a model wherein we provide technology, business and implements to farmers," says Zamindara Founder Vikram Ahuja whose company already caters to 3,000 farmers through a call centre. A mobile app is the next stop. The Zamindara's business model was a case study at business schools like IIM-Ahmedabad and XLRI, Jamshedpur.
Tractors apart, eqiupments like harrow, spike, chisel plow, cultivator, rotator, roller and strip till are also on the offer.
The company feels its online rental model will help farmers escape debt, a prime reason behind farmers' suicides in the country. Ahuja says proper training in usage of machines ensures that work is done properly. Right depth, proper distance between plants and rows are crucial as they finally affects the yield.
The pilot project has received an initial funding of Rs 25 lakh by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development or Nabard.
"This is a pilot project limited to Fazilka, and if all goes well, we may implement it in other districts of Punjab," Nabard's Chief General Manager for Punjab Region PM Ghole said.
The agri bank has recetly launched "Chalak Baney Malik" scheme, under which farmers will be given loan at low rates for buying equipment and the EMI will be deducted from the business generated.
Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) based Agroman claims to be the first company to come up with an integrated agriculture marketplace providing agri-services to farmers.
Agroman's online sales model is trying to generate demand from farmers in the unorganised agriculture sector and bring services to the rural doorsteps. "Due to small landholdings and lack of capital, most farmers use age-old practices and are dependent on government subsidies. There is a huge information asymmetry among stakeholders which results in low efficiency and low productivity. That is where we come in," says Agroman Founder Vikas Goyal. Launched as a price discovery platform in November, Agroman caters to both buy and sell sides of the agriculture business.
A pilot project is being launched in the agrarian state to allow companies and individuals rent out their tractors and equipment to a registered user who can expect the services at rates cheaper than those offered by traditional companies.
Fazilka-based Zamindara Farming Solutions hopes tractors lying idle with individuals can be put into use by networking the users and owners on a larger virtual platform.
"We are trying to evolve a model wherein we provide technology, business and implements to farmers," says Zamindara Founder Vikram Ahuja whose company already caters to 3,000 farmers through a call centre. A mobile app is the next stop. The Zamindara's business model was a case study at business schools like IIM-Ahmedabad and XLRI, Jamshedpur.
Tractors apart, eqiupments like harrow, spike, chisel plow, cultivator, rotator, roller and strip till are also on the offer.
The company feels its online rental model will help farmers escape debt, a prime reason behind farmers' suicides in the country. Ahuja says proper training in usage of machines ensures that work is done properly. Right depth, proper distance between plants and rows are crucial as they finally affects the yield.
The pilot project has received an initial funding of Rs 25 lakh by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development or Nabard.
"This is a pilot project limited to Fazilka, and if all goes well, we may implement it in other districts of Punjab," Nabard's Chief General Manager for Punjab Region PM Ghole said.
The agri bank has recetly launched "Chalak Baney Malik" scheme, under which farmers will be given loan at low rates for buying equipment and the EMI will be deducted from the business generated.
Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) based Agroman claims to be the first company to come up with an integrated agriculture marketplace providing agri-services to farmers.
Agroman's online sales model is trying to generate demand from farmers in the unorganised agriculture sector and bring services to the rural doorsteps. "Due to small landholdings and lack of capital, most farmers use age-old practices and are dependent on government subsidies. There is a huge information asymmetry among stakeholders which results in low efficiency and low productivity. That is where we come in," says Agroman Founder Vikas Goyal. Launched as a price discovery platform in November, Agroman caters to both buy and sell sides of the agriculture business.