Shunya Agritech: Fodder-as-Service
Year: 2023
Founders: Vijay Singh, Ashutosh Malik, Ritesh Raj Gupta, Laxman Pai, Ritesh Dhawan, Jay Prakash Chhajer, Dinesh Solanki, Akhil Kothari
Investors: UPL Ltd; backed by rural entrepreneurs and operations partners
Introduction
Shunya Agritech is pioneering hydroponic “green fodder‑as‑a‑service” for dairy farmers across India. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in New Delhi, Shunya runs Growth & Logistics Centres (GLCs) and a network of Saarthis at the village level to provide fresh, chemical-free fodder throughout the year. Its CEO Vijay Singh is backed by a high-performance team of agritech and tech professionals who are all committed to enhancing livestock health and rural livelihoods through sustainable nutrition solutions.
Tackling Agricultural Challenges
Indian dairy farmers are subjected to fodder shortages, low-quality feed, water shortages, and reduced milk productivity. Shunya addresses these challenges with hydroponic and vertical farm systems that consume 90% less water, produce fresh green fodder in 9 days, do away with land dependency, and provide doorstep supply. This enhances milk production, animal health, and hardness, while promoting sustainable, environment‑friendly dairy farming.
Key Offerings
- Hydroponic Fodder Subscription: Daily fresh green fodder grown in GLCs and delivered via Saarthi agents.
- Growth & Logistics Centres (GLCs): Modular vertical farming units powered by IoT (URJA system) and SOP-driven operations (VIDHI).
- Digital Farmer App & SaaS: Includes ordering, health tracking, market insights, and peer forums.
- Animal Wellness & Vet Access: Supports health through feed plus veterinary connect and AI disease alerts.
- B2B Partnerships: Enables production partner and Saarthi entrepreneur model for rural employment and scale.
Real Impact
Shunya now supplies fodder to dairy farmers in Kanpur, Agra, and Alwar, supplying fresh fodder on order through GLCs and Saarthi partners. The model has enhanced bovine health, improved rural income through women-led micro-entrepreneurship, and fortified local livelihoods. Their hydroponic system enhances yield per ha of fodder while reducing water consumption, which helps make livestock farming carbon-positive.
Success Story
In May 2025, Shunya’s pilot “Doodh Darpan” study found buffaloes fed Nutri-Ankurit Feed maintained milk yield and increased milk fat by 5%, especially under heat stress—demonstrating the platform’s ability to directly impact farmer income and animal wellness.
Lessons for Agri-Startups
- Leverage Controlled-Environment Agriculture to solve fodder scarcity effectively.
- Build rural-owned networks (GLCs and Saarthis) to drive local adoption and livelihoods.
- Embed IoT-enabled operations & digital tools to ensure consistent quality and traceability.
- Combine nutrition with embedded wellness services (veterinary care, alerts) for holistic animal health.
- Enable entrepreneur-led models to scale sustainably through local ownership .
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