“So our goal is two things. One, how fast can we breed seeds that can solve real-world problems for farmers? And second is, how fast can we deploy infrastructure that is enabling people to grow produce more efficiently?” — said Vihari Kanukollu, co-founder and CEO of UrbanKisaan who featured in the Shift Code podcast, hosted by the Project Management Institute (PMI). As the conversation unfolds it brings India into focus—not through traditional agricultural models, but through the lens of hydroponics and strategic project management.
As concerns around global food security continue to rise, conversations are increasingly turning to how nations can rethink agriculture. This conversation delved into UrbanKisaan’s journey from selling home hydroponic kits in Hyderabad to building scalable agtech infrastructure across 15 countries. From speed breeding drought-resistant seeds to launching Tesla-inspired leasing models for hydroponic farms, UrbanKisaan is racing to localize food production and combat climate-driven agriculture disruptions. The conversation sheds light on how Kanukollu’s vision has redefined vertical farming—not as a luxury, but as a cost-effective, sustainable lifelinefor global food systems.
UrbanKisaan and Its Approach to Sustainable Food Production
Founded with the goal of bringing fresher, cleaner food closer to consumers, UrbanKisaan operates on the concept of hydroponics—a method of farming that eliminates the need for soil and drastically reduces water usage. According to Kanukollu, hydroponics can use up to 99% less water than traditional farming techniques, a figure that resonates strongly in countries like India where water scarcity is a persistent challenge.
During the conversation, Kanukollu reflects on how UrbanKisaan’s model supports high-yield farming with fewer resources. By working closely with seed scientists and using indoor farming environments, the company is developing crop varieties suited to controlled, water-efficient environments. Kanukollu noted, “We’re focused on rapidly breeding seeds that solve real-world problems for farmers and deploying infrastructure that enables more efficient food production.”
This infrastructure isn’t limited to India. UrbanKisaan has expanded its reach to 15 countries, reflecting not only the scalability of the model but also growing interest in non-traditional farming methods worldwide.
The Role of Project Management in Scaling Sustainable Agriculture
A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to understanding the structural and logistical underpinnings of such projects. Kanukollu credits strategic project management with enabling UrbanKisaan to expand its operations and sustain its model across geographies. As food systems become increasingly complex and sensitive to environmental challenges, the need for systematic planning and agile decision-making becomes more critical.
PMI, known for its emphasis on structured project management approaches, used this platform to illustrate how these methods are now finding relevance in sectors like agriculture—historically seen as more organic and less process-driven. The integration of these frameworks, according to Le Manh, is essential for coordinating the many moving parts involved in deploying new agricultural models, particularly in regions resistant to rapid change.
The podcast touches on various hurdles that companies like UrbanKisaan face, such as resistance from local communities and farmers who are more comfortable with conventional techniques. Overcoming these obstacles often requires a blend of long-term planning and responsive management. Le Manh points out that Kanukollu’s efforts illustrate how long-term strategic planning, combined with agile execution, is essential for navigating cultural and economic resistance to change.
From Urban Experiments to National Models
What started as an urban experiment in using rooftops and small plots to grow leafy greens and herbs has now developed into a wider conversation about agricultural transformation in India. The insights from the podcast hint at broader applications, suggesting that models like UrbanKisaan’s could be implemented in various parts of the country, especially in regions dealing with erratic rainfall and diminishing arable land.
The idea isn’t to replace traditional farming but to supplement it with options that are efficient, localised, and climate-resilient. While hydroponics is still relatively niche in India compared to conventional agriculture, it’s gaining traction, particularly among younger entrepreneurs and urban consumers interested in quality and sustainability.
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India’s Opportunity in a Changing Agricultural Landscape
India, with its vast and varied agricultural challenges, could find itself uniquely positioned to experiment with and adapt such technologies. The country’s dual burden of feeding a large population while conserving natural resources makes the adoption of water-efficient, high-yield methods not just desirable but necessary.
Strategic planning, supported by technologies like hydroponics, could pave the way for more resilient food systems. This is where PMI sees a confluence between project management and agriculture. Structured methodologies offer ways to allocate resources better, anticipate challenges, and evaluate outcomes—helping not just start-ups but also policymakers and larger institutions.
UrbanKisaan’s journey, as outlined in the podcast, may serve as a case study in this evolving landscape. It’s not just about tech or innovation for its own sake, but about finding practical, scalable solutions to long-standing problems.
A Broader Dialogue on Agricultural Futures
While the podcast episode focuses specifically on one company and its founder, it opens the door to a wider discussion. Hydroponics is just one of several methods that could help diversify how food is grown and delivered in a changing climate. The broader implication is that solutions will likely be multifaceted, involving not only new technologies but also new ways of planning and implementing those technologies at scale.
As India balances tradition and innovation in its food systems, the role of structured planning—whether by startups like UrbanKisaan or by government and private-sector initiatives—will likely shape how effectively the country can adapt to future food demands.
In the end, the episode serves less as a promotion of one model and more as a glimpse into an ongoing shift in how agriculture is being thought about—one that acknowledges the complexity of the problem and the variety of tools that may be required to address it.
