Shunya Agritech, an agritech startup, and the Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF) have signed a five year Memorandum of Understanding to jointly build a nationally scalable certification based skilling program in hydroponic green fodder production and livestock nutrition. The MoU aims to create a structured framework to equip farmers and rural youth with future ready skills essential for strengthening India’s dairy and livestock sector, amid ongoing fodder shortages and rising demands for more efficient, sustainable farming practices.
The collaboration positions both organisations to mobilise capacity building at scale by aligning technical expertise, grassroots networks, and entrepreneurship focused learning models.
A common vision anchors the partnership, with Shunya Agritech working on automated hydroponic fodder systems and AEGF operating with a mandate to expand rural entrepreneurship. Both entities aim to equip agri entrepreneurs with technical capability, operational proficiency, and market linked pathways that can enhance rural incomes.
Rajendra Jog, Director at AEGF, noted that reliable green fodder remains a missing link in many smallholder dairy geographies and highlighted the role of Shunya Agritech’s fodder as a service approach in bridging this gap.
Reliable green fodder has become one of the biggest missing pieces in India’s smallholder dairy economy. Shunya’s fodder-as-a-service model fills that gap with a solution that is both scalable and rooted in science. For AEGF, this partnership strengthens our effort to nurture agri entrepreneurs who can build sustainable, market linked livelihoods. A commercial Growth and Logistics Centre in our facility in Pune will not only demonstrate what is possible, it will empower a new generation of rural entrepreneurs to turn opportunity into impact.
MoU & Certification Framework in Hydroponic Livestock Nutrition
The core of the agreement is a jointly developed training curriculum built around science driven hydroponic fodder production, operational processes, and entrepreneurship. The program focuses on hydroponically grown sprouted green fodder, referred to as Nutri Ankurit Feed (NAF), and its ability to support livestock productivity in a climate responsive and water efficient manner. Participants will engage with modules covering system operations, daily production routines, hygiene protocols, economic modelling, business frameworks, livestock nutrition fundamentals, and measurable on-ground impact.
The certification structure is designed to create a talent pool for roles across the hydroponic fodder ecosystem. Production Partners will invest in and operate hydroponic Growth & Logistics Centres, Operations Team Members will manage daily production activities in Shunya run or partner run units, and Saarthi Partners will support market outreach and farmer adoption. This approach is expected to strengthen operational rigour across the value chain and build a stable workforce to run hydroponic units nationwide.
Ritesh Raj Gupta, Chief Technology Officer at Shunya Agritech, underlined that the partnership enables direct engagement with aspiring agri entrepreneurs through a structured training environment.
We truly value the support from AEGF. Their commitment to developing strong rural entrepreneurs aligns closely with what Shunya is building on the ground. This partnership gives us the platform to work directly with aspiring agri entrepreneurs and help them build viable, science driven fodder solutions that can stand on their own feet. The Training Centre & Program in Pune will become a place where ideas turn into skills and skills turn into real opportunities.
Centre of Excellence for Hands-on Training
To ensure that the program remains immersive and operationally grounded, Shunya will establish a demonstration Growth & Logistics Centre at AEGF’s Centre of Excellence in Agriculture in Koregaon Bhima, Pune. Trainees will undergo classroom instruction and real time exposure to hydroponic green fodder production, logistics, customer outreach, and supply chain coordination. The collaboration begins with a pilot unit dedicated to nearby farming clusters, with scope for expansion over the next three to six months. The demo unit will also function as a live business environment that familiarises trainees with the end to end operational realities of hydroponic fodder ecosystems.
Also read: INTERVIEW | Vijay Singh on How Shunya Agritech is Rethinking Livestock Nutrition
Partnership Structure & Joint Responsibilities
Under the MoU, Shunya Agritech will oversee technical content development, deploy the demonstration infrastructure, run train the trainer programs, and integrate certified participants into its operational network when feasible. AEGF will leverage its base of agri entrepreneurs to source participants, contextualise content for rural audiences, facilitate batch training, manage classroom delivery, and oversee the certification process.
As the certifying body, AEGF will maintain training records and support post training linkages, while Shunya will ensure that its Production Partners and field teams undergo the certification, thereby aligning practices across locations. Both organisations have committed to jointly promoting research insights, operational learnings, and best practices emerging from the collaboration to support broader rural development objectives.
Long Term Commitment to Rural Livelihoods
With millions of smallholder dairy farmers relying on livestock for primary income, this initiative establishes a structured pathway for capability building in hydroponic fodder systems. The collaboration between Shunya Agritech and AEGF brings together technology, hands-on training, and entrepreneurship to cultivate a workforce that can manage climate smart fodder units, enhance milk productivity, and strengthen rural livelihoods. As hydroponic fodder gains traction as a water efficient and sustainable response to India’s fodder deficit, this partnership lays the foundation for a new generation of trained professionals and rural entrepreneurs equipped to expand adoption across the country.
