This MBA clocks Rs 1 crore annual turnover by managing agri waste; empowers farmers with higher incomes

Satish Mahto has distinct memories of pushing a cycle loaded with seasonal vegetables across the shallow waters of the river Koel in Jharkhand to reach the mandi. As a teenager, he would help his father transport the harvest to the market. The 35-year-old agri-entrepreneur belongs to Chipra village in Ranchi, and his family has been dependent on agriculture for a livelihood for the past four generations. 

“I observed the problems that farmers faced. For instance, I realized there was no mandi within a 12 km radius of our fields. My father would grow rice and a variety of vegetables. I have often gone to small mandis and haats with my father,” Satish tells 30Stades.  

This exposure to the difficulties farmers face prompted Satish to set up Feedko Agrokart in 2016. 

The venture connects farmers with the market for their produce and also processes crop residue, adding to farmers' incomes. 

Solving farmers’ problems

Satish’s platform simplifies the process of not just selling crops but also crop residue ensuring that farmers receive fair value. Feedko supports marginal farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and horticulturists by primarily providing them with market access.

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“Our platform creates direct connections between farmers and retailers, supermarkets, processing units and commercial kitchens. We ensure rigorous quality control and grading for produce. We give farmers better prices and consistent demand,” says Satish.

Feedko supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to large institutional buyers (like Safal), restaurants, catering services, and the paramilitary forces and hospitals as well.  

However, what makes the venture different is its focus on crop residue management. Crop residue is used to make animal feed, packaging material and even in the pharma industry. 

Satish studied tourism management in graduation, followed by an MBA in tourism and logistics from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 

“I could understand the problems in supply chains in agriculture when I was studying logistics. After working in a few companies in the logistics sector to gain more practical knowledge of the subject, I founded Feedko.”  

Rise in farmer incomes

Around 7,000 farmers have benefited by collaborating with Feedko, with their incomes growing by 40 percent. 

Farmers earn Rs 18,000 monthly by tying up with Feedko. The venture has 50 business partners, deals in over 100 products and operates in 16 cities. 

Ninety per cent of Feedko’s operations are in Jharkhand. It also operates in parts of Chhattisgarh and Bengal. The company earned revenue of Rs 60 lakhs in 2023-24 and expects to have crossed Rs 1 crore in 2024-25 only from its crop residue operations.  

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Satish has obtained the prestigious fellowship offered by The Buddha Institute for 2024-2026, acknowledging Feedko’s significant social contributions. The Buddha Institute was founded by IIM, Ahmedabad alumnus and social entrepreneur Ved Arya. As part of the fellowship, the institute provides financial help as well as mentoring support.

Crop residue and animal feed

“The company manages 1,500 metric tons of crop residue annually addressing a critical environmental concern and also creating additional revenue for farmers.  We research each agricultural product to find out which industry can use the residue,” explains Satish.

The crop residue includes straw, stalks, leaves, husks, shells, seed pods, root residue and bagasse (the dry, fibrous by-product remaining after crushing stalks to extract juice).  

At present, Feedko deals with the crop residue of sweet corn, baby corn, green peas, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower, (the last three for leaves), and more recently, groundnut in Bengal. The green plant of groundnut and the residue of the nut after oil extraction are nutritious and can be used as animal feed. Green silage (animal feed) is made from the waste of corn, sweet corn, baby corn, peas and groundnuts.  

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The agricultural waste left on the fields after the harvest of sweet corn is cleared and collected by the Feedko team. It is processed and converted into animal feed sold to dairy companies in Ranchi. By providing green fodder to livestock farmers the company is enhancing animal welfare as well. 

Farmers benefit from Feedko’s operations in three ways. 

One, farmers do not have to spend on labour to clear their fields of crop residue. Two, Feedko pays them for the waste. Three, within a few days the fields are cleared and ready for the sowing of the next crop which means more revenue.  Four times a year, cropping becomes easy for farmers. 

Maximising revenue for farmers

“I would wonder, while the sweet corn had a good market, what happens to the rest of the plant and also the cover of the corn cob and corn silk? In Jharkhand, sweet corn farming is done on 4,000 acres. So, there is a huge opportunity to make use of the agri waste,” says Satish. 

Since much of the waste is being converted into animal feed, Satish persuaded the corn farmers to use minimal pesticides and those which were not harmful to animal life. He convinced dairy farmers that this animal feed would increase milk yield. 

“I now have 20 large dairy farmers as clients. Each dairy farmer buys around 200 metric tonnes of animal feed every year. Their animal feed cost has reduced and milk yield has risen,” he explains.  

The cover of the corn cob can be converted to animal feed and also be used to make packaging material. Corn silk has value in the pharma industry. So, all parts of the corn – plant, cob, cover of the cob, and silk generate revenue for the farmer.   

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Feedko also pays villagers to remove corn from the cob and buys it from them. This corn is then sold to bulk customers like Safal. The same process is followed for peas. This way, Feedko is creating micro-entrepreneurs in rural areas. 

Minor forest produce

Feedko empowers minor forest produce collectors from forest-dependent tribal communities with fair trade practices. The company handles 100 metric tonnes of minor forest produce, supporting the livelihoods of 200-plus tribal families. 

The minor forest products include bamboo, lac, tendu leaves, medicinal herbs, gums, waxes, dyes and resins, nuts and wild fruits, honey, soapnut, mahua flower and seed and karanja seed.  

“In 18 districts in Jharkhand, livelihood depends on forest activities and products. Jackfruit is available in plenty in the forest areas and I am collaborating with Safal for processing. Jamun is another product we collect," says Satish.

"We ask the villagers to collect and wash the small mangoes that fall from the trees and pay them per crate basis,” he adds.

While these mangoes cannot be sold as fruit, their seeds are rich in fat and can be used for oil extraction. This oil is used to make shampoos. The mango seeds are also sold to nurseries which use them for propagation purposes.    

Other impact factors

The environmental impact of Feedko’s operations is significant.  By promoting eco-friendly waste management, there is a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions and 40 percent cleaner air as agricultural waste is not burnt.  Another eco-friendly initiative is implementing renewable energy solutions in farming with 25 plus solar installations saving 40 percent of energy.  

Moreover, while collaborating with farmers, Feedko urges them to adopt organic practices. Around 50 percent of the produce sold by Feedko is organic. 

Feedko employs only locals to prevent migration from rural areas to towns and cities. The company has 20-plus employees. 

“We pay 25 percent more than the market rate to workers. In their free time, the employees take up other activities like growing fruits like papaya, or rearing goats or chicken,” the agripreneur says. 

Feedko also conducts skill development programmes. Over 400 farmers have been trained in financial management and banking and over 20 programmes have been held for farmers to teach them modern farming techniques and best practices.  Around 150 entrepreneurs have been trained in entrepreneurship and market understanding. Feedko supports over 150 women farmers and over 10 women-led FPOs. 

In 2017, Feedko was selected and recognized in the Jharkhand Startups Challenge. In 2020, it was selected among the top 20 teams in the prestigious Tata Social Enterprise Challenge. In 2023, Feedko was selected for the HDFC CSR Fund, enabling the expansion of its social impact initiatives. It also bagged the Best Agri-Tech Startup award in the same year. 

Satish’s vision extends beyond business growth; he is committed to creating a positive social impact. “By collaborating with the state government through the NRLM (National Rural Livelihoods Mission) scheme, we aim to establish micro-entrepreneurs, fostering economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods,” says Satish.

(Aruna Raghuram is a freelance journalist based in Bengaluru. She writes about people, environmental matters, parenting, DEI issues, and social/development enterprises.)

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