Shunya Agritech, an agritech startup and Forage has entered into a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG), Mathura, to jointly research and develop hydroponic fodder systems. The collaboration focuses on boosting goat productivity and improving the economic conditions of farmers across India. By combining Shunya Agritech’s hydroponic technology expertise with CIRG’s research focus on goat health, milk and meat yield, the partnership aims to translate research into practical, science backed solutions for rural farmers.
Joint Trials and Nutritional Optimization
Under the MoU, Shunya Agritech and CIRG will conduct joint trials to assess the impact of hydroponic fodder on goat health and productivity. The collaboration will focus on optimizing nutritional protocols and extending best practices to goat farmers across the country. The objective is to generate scientific validation of hydroponic fodder’s effectiveness and to develop models that can be scaled for smallholder and marginal farmers, addressing the widespread challenge of limited access to quality green feed.
Strategic Significance for India’s Goat Population
The MoU was signed in the presence of Prof S P Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The partnership carries particular importance for India’s small ruminant population, estimated at approximately 250 million, which often faces shortages of nutritious fodder. By enhancing goat productivity, the collaboration is expected to improve income security and nutrition for rural households dependent on livestock.
New Growth & Logistics Centre to Support Research
As part of the collaboration, a new Growth & Logistics Centre (GLC) will be established within the CIRG campus in Makhdoom. Strategically located near Shunya Agritech’s existing GLC in Atus village, the new centre will support research activities, demonstration projects and farmer outreach initiatives. This infrastructure is intended to enable effective knowledge transfer and facilitate practical implementation of hydroponic fodder systems in diverse farming environments.
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“This partnership with ICAR-CIRG is a milestone in Shunya’s journey to make climate smart fodder accessible to every farmer. By combining our hydroponic innovation with CIRG’s scientific expertise, we aim to deliver proven, scalable solutions that improve goat productivity, strengthen farmer livelihoods, and create lasting impact for India’s livestock sector.”
“At CIRG, our mission is to enhance goat productivity through science, research, and farmer outreach. Collaborating with Shunya Agritech allows us to validate and extend the benefits of hydroponic fodder to farmers across India. Together, we will build evidence based models that improve animal health, nutrition, and income security for smallholder and marginal farmers.”
Impact on Rural Livelihoods and Livestock Sector
The MoU represents a convergence of Shunya Agritech’s climate smart “fodder-on-demand” technology with CIRG’s scientific research. The collaboration is designed to translate research into practical solutions that provide fast growing, nutrient rich green feed directly to farms. By strengthening goat health and productivity, the initiative aims to enhance rural livelihoods and support a more resilient livestock sector in India.
