Farmcult revolutionizing agriculture | Fusion - WeRIndia

Farmcult, an innovative startup from Chandigarh is focusing on hydroponics—soilless farming. Pritpal Singh is the founder of the startup. He made a dramatic career shift to reconnect with his agricultural roots and address modern farming challenges.

Armed with an MBA in marketing from IMT Nagpur, Pritpal began his professional journey with HDFC Ergo, followed by a role as Territory Sales Manager at ICICI Lombard.

Despite his success in the corporate world, his childhood experiences on his grandfather’s farm ignited a lasting passion for farming.

In 2021, Pritpal launched Farmcult. Over three years, Farmcult conducted extensive research and development on various protected cultivation structures and hydroponic techniques to adapt them to India’s diverse climates and terrains.

Recognizing the early stage of hydroponics in India, Farmcult offers two distinct models. They are the setup and support model and end-to-end management model.

Under the first model, Farmcult provides comprehensive farm setup assistance, agronomy support, and consultancy for clients with land and capital. Clients can get the support for six months to a year.  Farmcult also helps establish market linkages to ensure successful sales.

Under the second model, Farmcult offers a full-service solution for clients who have land and capital but lack the time to manage operations. They handle everything from farm setup to daily operations, including agronomy support, harvesting, marketing, and sales. This model creates passive income for clients through a revenue-sharing arrangement.

Farmcult also emphasizes education and advocacy. They conduct workshops and training sessions for aspiring farmers, entrepreneurs, and many more.

It highlights the benefits of hydroponic farming, such as sustainability, water efficiency, and chemical-free produce. Their workshops, available both online and offline, provide hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of soilless farming techniques.

Pritpal’s agricultural journey began in 2013 while he was still working full-time. By 2016, he fully transitioned to farming, initially investing ₹50 lakh per acre to grow exotic flowers in greenhouses.

However, the market’s shift towards artificial flowers led to a decline in demand for fresh blooms. This prompted him to pivot to growing seedless cucumbers and other vegetables, guided by experts in protected cultivation. This strategic change tripled his returns.

Exploring hydroponics further transformed Pritpal’s venture. Initially selling his produce in Chandigarh’s open markets, he eventually found a niche market of wholesale buyers interested in hydroponically grown crops.

Today, Farmcult is at the forefront of sustainable farming practices, offering innovative solutions and empowering communities through education and economic opportunities.

Image Credit: MaryamSaleel2002, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hydroponic_Farming.jpg