Syngenta Foundation India (SFI)

The AE Enterprise platform serves project officers, AE mentors, and primarily AEs in their daily activities, including input demand management and market linkages. Ultimately, small and marginal farmers benefit from this platform.
It addresses nine crucial stages, encompassing screening, selection, learning, development, incubation, data consolidation, farmer training, crop planning, loans, credit linkage, produce marketing, and technology infrastructure acquisition.
The platform aims to shift farmers' perspectives from viewing agriculture as subsistence to recognizing its potential for significantly boosting income. Farmers accessing the platform gain regional language information sharing, interactive technical training videos, motivational content, and exposure to local success stories, fostering a network of information, buyers, sellers, and advisors.

Each Agricultural Entrepreneur (AE) collaborates with 150-200 farmers in a cluster spanning 4-5 villages, serving as a comprehensive resource for small and marginal farmers' agricultural needs. AE selection criteria include residence in the village cluster and basic educational qualifications (minimum Class X).
While agri-entrepreneur models have been previously attempted in India, many existing AEs primarily function as input dealers, often selling substandard agri-inputs. In contrast, SFI-supported AEs engage in activities like seed distribution and market linkage, contributing to increased farmer incomes. SFI and their partner NGOs closely supervise AEs, enforcing strict policies that terminate financial support from IDBI if AEs engage in deceptive or illegal activities.
Each AE plays four vital roles:
1. Supplying quality inputs.
2. Offering crop advisory and knowledge.
3. Facilitating market connections.
4. Assisting with credit access.

SURYA operates in seven locations with the primary goal of training youth as Agricultural Technology Assistants (ATAs) or extension agents, equipping them with essential skills. The model anticipates that, from a batch of 25 ATAs, 7-8 candidates will qualify for the AE program. To effectively execute various development projects, efficient "last-mile" agents are in demand. SFI aims to train rural youth, termed "agri-entrepreneurs," capable of offering agricultural services to small-holder farmers. These candidates undergo an intensive 45-day residential program, emerging as competent Agricultural Technology Assistants with region-specific skills.
The training employs diverse interactive methods, with 65% classroom learning involving communication, collaboration, field visits, assignments, and presentations. Additionally, 19% is allocated to exposure visits for practical enterprise understanding, and 16% focuses on AE attachments with established Agri-Entrepreneurs.

This project operates in a small Indian village with 554 residents and 289 hectares of cultivated land. Initially, vegetable farmers faced challenges due to an unreliable diesel-powered irrigation scheme, causing them to focus on rain-fed paddy production. To address this, the Syngenta Foundation India (SFI) and Syngenta India Limited (SIL) collaborated, with SIL covering 60% of the project cost through their Corporate Social Responsibility program. They installed a solar-powered lift irrigation system for the Five Brothers Irrigation Committee (Panch Bandhu Sinchai Samiti), enabling vegetable cultivation, a more profitable venture. SFI provides technical support and crop advice. The project aims to promote sustainable solutions, encouraging diversification into vegetable farming to boost income and livelihoods.