Farm-to-Table Digital Marketplace for Small Farmers

Problem Statement

Small farmers in Tamil Nadu receive only 20-30% of the final consumer price for their produce due to multiple intermediaries in the supply chain. This leads to farmer incomes 40% below the national average, high food waste (30-40% of produce), and higher prices for consumers. Limited market access also restricts crop diversification and sustainable farming practices.

Proposed Solution

We propose developing a digital marketplace platform connecting 10,000 small farmers directly with urban consumers, restaurants, and retailers. The platform will include features for quality verification, transparent pricing, logistics coordination, and digital payments. Farmer collectives will be formed to aggregate produce and ensure consistent supply.

Expected Impact

This initiative aims to increase farmer incomes by 40-60%, reduce food waste by 25%, lower consumer prices by 15%, and promote sustainable farming practices. It will directly benefit 10,000 farmers and their families (approximately 50,000 people) and provide better quality produce to 100,000+ urban consumers.

Resources Required

The project requires ₹4 crore for implementation, including technology development, farmer onboarding and training, logistics setup, and marketing. We seek partnerships with technology companies, logistics providers, agricultural universities, and government agriculture departments.