Redefining Agribusiness

An Introduction

Indian Agribusiness Systems Private Limited

23, Community Centre, Zamrudpur, Kailash Colony Extension

New Delhi – 110 048

Phones: +91-11-45191100, Fax: +91-11-45191124 URL: www.agriwatch.com

Agriwatch – An Introduction

Leveraging technology in the Farm Sector Indian Agribusiness Systems Private Limited was started in 2000 to take the benefits of the internet and other technologies to all players in the Agriculture Sector. While information has always been key to every task in the farming sector, the dissemination of the information was not always democratic, leading to inefficiencies. The launching of agriwatch.com heralded the first successful attempt to take information on prices, arrivals, weather, acreage etc. public allowing all players to access the data. The data was also made available through print media since at that point internet was not as prevalent.

Agri-Commodity Research is our forte` With data being collected daily in over 250 commodities from over 400 markets in the country and overseas, we have arguably one of the largest price-arrival data sets in the country apart from the government sources. The major commodities we cover regularly include: Grains: Rice, Wheat, Maize Pulses: Gram, Peas, Moong, Tur, Urad, Lentils Veg Oil and Oil Seeds Soybean, Mustard, Sunflower, Groundnut Oilmeal Soybean, Rapeseed, Groundnut Spices Turmeric, Black Pepper, Cumin, Chilli Pepper, Coriander Others 125 Herbal and Medicinal Plants

Sugar and Jaggery Cotton and Guar

We have over the years used the data to develop models for forecasting in the domestic and global markets. Our Trade Reports are widely subscribed and cover crucial information including:

Supply –Demand forecasts Trade Flow Price and crop forecasts

The information and analysis are available on the Internet as well as through technologies like SMS, Net and mobile applications and are constantly being upgraded and innovated. We have extensive experience in producing and distributing “Print editions” of agri-commodity related publications. We have in the past published following publications over a period of 9 years:

1. Agriwatch (Hindi) – Daily And Monthly 2. Agriwatch (Bi-lingual) - Monthly 3. Commodity Canvas –Weekly 4. ICICI Commodity Life – Weekly 5. MCX Commodity News - Monthly

The experience gives us one of the largest networks Having been in the sector for over 10 years and having set up the information collection networks through the country has given us access to over 5 lakh farmers and 25000 of traders based in all states. This helps us understand and learn the changes in the market dynamics as they happen It also provides us the access for in-depth Value Chain Studies and Sub-Sector Analysis

Advisory and Consulting Services With the depth and width of commodity experience we have advised some of the largest organizations in the world working in various agri-related key sectors such as agribusiness, food chain, rural development, agri-input. Our core services include:

1. Designing and implementing procurement strategies 2. Crop surveys and outlook –including acreage, progress, inputs and forecast 3. Supply – Demand projects 4. Research studies and surveys 5. Commodity futures 6. Sub-sector studies and field based interventions 7. Supply chain re-engineering 8. Risk Mitigation strategies

Key Projects executed

1. An Analysis of Market Forces and Feasibility to Establish the Compound Cattle Feed Unit in Western Uttar Pradesh: For a joint sector company

2. Analysis of market and identification of investment opportunities in the cattle-feed sector for a US based manufacturer

3. Feasibility Study for Baby Buffalo Farm in Uttar Pradesh: For a private firm

4. Detailed demand analysis of poultry, dairy, feed, feed additives and meat sectors – for CLFMA

5. An Overview of Edible Vegetable Oils Industry in India: For Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium under Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India

6. Edible Oil Imports into India: Using Agreement on Safeguards

7. Study on Agricultural Produce Markets in West Bengal, for DFID and GoWB, to understand the structure, conduct and performance of trade in agricultural produce, including the downstream sectors; specifically to analyze factors contributing to price determination, volume flows and the role of trade-related services

8. World Bank study of agricultural value chain in the state of Bihar

9. National Horticulture Board for their Kisan Call center services (query redress)

10. Evaluation and monitoring of Ministry of Rural Development Projects like District Level Monitoring, Sector Reform Program and Swajaldhara.

11. Japan Bank of International Cooperation for their irrigation projects in Koraput and Kalahandi districts of Orissa – socio economic survey and micro plan development for the project beneficiaries

12. Ministry of Information Technology for the Country Development gateway Project – need assessment and business plan development

13. District Level Monitoring under Ministry of Rural Development

14. Market Mapping and development of micro credit mechanism: Rengali Irrigation project in Kalahandi & Koraput , Orissa. Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), Madhya Pradesh

15. Determinants of Soybean Oil Demand and U.S. Market Share in India: for American Soybean Association and Economic Research Services of The US

16. A State Specific Study on Seed Spices for the State of Madhya Pradesh

17. A State Specific Study on Wheat for the State of Madhya Pradesh

18. Content aggregation and design for the National Horticulture Board print communication to the farmers.

19. Content aggregation and design for the Coconut Development Board print communication to the farmers/traders

20. Wheat variety identification and sourcing, for a trans-national restaurant chain

21. Meat Sector mapping and demand analysis, for a multilateral agency

22. Analysis of consumer behavior and targeting of communication for soy based food products - for a multilateral agency

23. Long range Demand forecast at aggregate level and for individual fruits and vegetables - for a development enterprise

24. Identification of channel partners and rural credit markets – for a Bank

25. ITC for identification of value addition opportunities with their farmer groups in Munger, Bihar

26. Chambal Fertilizers and Tata Kisan Kendra for rural focused knowledge dissemination publications

27. Preparation of plan and tender specs for Mahaagrinet project in Maharashtra. This project envisages a central server, 33 district centers, and 1000 dissemination kiosks.

28. Private Investment in Indian Agribusiness: Trends and Constraints for The United States Department of Agriculture

29. Survey and identification of cattle feed (plus survey of rural and urban dairy farms) dealers and distributors in Haryana and Punjab for a Transnational company.

30. Study of policy and regulatory issues with respect to agriculture produce marketing in West Bengal – for a private investor

31. A detailed analysis of ICT interventions related to agriculture extension and suggest Government directions for the future – for FAO

32. Survey of market, production clusters, distribution systems and development of business plan for RUDI bazaars promoted by SEWA – for SEWA and ICICI Bank

33. Indicus Analytics for their WSS sector study for World Bank

34. IDEI for their farmer groups in Maharashtra and Bihar

35. Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals for setting up their farm level query redress system through an internet based system

Strategic Partners Agriwatch has strategic partnerships with following organizations that provide it unique strengths in implementation and grassroot level access. Indian Society for Agricultural Professionals (ISAP), Not-for-profit outfit also promoted by same promoters with membership of over 15000 agri-professionals and over 10 implementations on ground currently of government programs like SGSY,MANAGE and other corporate CSR programs in extension, training and financing. Indigram Skill and Knowledge Initiatives Pvt. Ltd. (ISKILL), a new venture that will focus on training and capacity building in functional and vocational areas that are required in the agricultural and rural economies. The company aims to train over 7.5 lakh youth in skills like supply chain, retail and para-vet services. Indian Rural Development Solutions (IRDS) a venture that focuses on providing access to rural areas to companies wishing to implement projects in the rural areas.

The Team The team consists of highly qualified professionals with experience in Agriculture, commodities, ICT and Consulting in India and abroad. The top management includes:

Mr.N.V.Ramana, Chairman: B. Tech. (Dairying), PGDM (IIM Ahmedabad). Has 3 decades of experience in agri-commodities trading, animal feed industry, input sourcing, supply chain management and consulting services.

Mr. Sunil Khairnar, Founder, Vice Chairman, B. Tech. (Agriculture), PGDM (IIM Ahmedabad), 16 years of work experience in agri-commodities trading, animal feed industry, input sourcing and supply chain management and consulting services,, Director – MCX Group

V N Saroja, Chief Executive Officer, PGDM (IIM Ahmedabad), 20 years experience in consulting in diverse sectors including agriculture and internet. Co-Founder of Naukri.com and Movico Technologies.

Rajeev Dar, Director, B. Tech. (Dairying), PGDM (IIM Ahmedabad). Has 27 years of experience across

various industries including Dairy and food processing and marketing in India and abroad, including

Alfa laval , Thermax and others. Heads the Not-for-profit ISAP

Sachin Mardikar (Director-Consulting ) CA and ICWA, MPF(IIM-B) with over 15 years of experience in Corporate, Rural and Micro Finance Sector

Bhaskar Natarajan, Head- Research and Content: M.S. (University of Cincinnati, USA), B.E. (VJTI, Mumbai). Has 15 years of consulting and technology experience in various multinational companies in the US and India

Pankaj Agarwal, Head- IT: M.Eng. (National University of Singapore), B.Tech. (IIT Delhi). More than 12 years of experience in technology companies in New York and Singapore