DCM Shriram Foundation and The/Nudge Institute, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, awarded EF Polymer as the winner of the DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge. The startup received ₹2 crores for its ground-breaking solutions to enhance water-use efficiency and boost agricultural productivity for India’s smallholder farmers. The grand finale event featured Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog, as the chief guest.
CultYvate, an agri-tech platform by Farm2Fork Technologies, received special recognition and an award of ₹25 lakhs for developing smart irrigation systems that simplify irrigation and provide farmers with advisory services for effective decision-making.
DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge: Driving Agricultural Water Efficiency
Launched in June 2023, with the cohort beginning in September, the DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge aimed to improve water efficiency, productivity, and profitability for 1 million smallholder farmers in India. The initiative focused on four major water-intensive crops: sugarcane, wheat, paddy, and cotton.
Out of 134 applications, 16 AgTech organizations were selected for the cohort, fostering innovations across irrigation, BioAg inputs, and advisory services. Following evaluations, four finalists emerged for their breakthrough potential: EF Polymer, CultYvate, IndusTill, and PhyFarm.
Addressing India’s Growing Water Crisis
India faces a severe water crisis. Per capita water availability has dropped below 1,486 cubic meters, far below the 1,700 cubic meter threshold for water stress. Agriculture consumes 78% of India’s freshwater, with 62% sourced from rapidly depleting groundwater reserves. If current trends continue, India will have only 50% of its water needs met by 2030, threatening 600 million farmers.
The DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge underscores the potential of AgWaterTech solutions to drive scalable, high-impact changes in water-intensive crops. These efforts are essential to support smallholder farmers struggling with water scarcity and climate-related challenges.
Leaders Applaud Innovation in Water Management
Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman and Sr. Managing Director, DCM Shriram Ltd, and Director, DCM Shriram Foundation stated, “Water is the most critical resource for agriculture. Given India’s severe water crisis, this challenge plays a vital role in identifying and scaling modern, holistic solutions to improve water use among smallholder farmers. We congratulate the winner and all finalists for their pioneering efforts.”
Kanishka Chatterjee, Director, The/Nudge Prize, highlighted, “Groundwater depletion and smallholder incomes are complex issues. Despite challenges like free water access and fragmented decision-making, fourteen organizations demonstrated exceptional determination. Their commitment has laid the foundation for India’s first AgWater ecosystem, bringing together experts, investors, and enablers. This marks the beginning of a new era in agricultural water management.”
EF Polymer’s Impact: Sustainable Water Retention for Farmers
EF Polymer, an agro-biological startup, is working to improve water availability for agriculture. Operating in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, the company developed Fasal Amrit, an organic soil conditioner. It can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water. This innovation ensures optimal soil moisture retention, improving crop yields.
Over the past two years, EF Polymer has reached over 17,000 farmers across 11 states. According to the press release, it has increased irrigation efficiency by 40% and boosted crop yields by 18.72%.
