{"id":369088,"date":"2024-01-19T11:42:08","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T06:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zerodha.com\/z-connect\/?p=369088"},"modified":"2024-02-03T19:08:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T13:38:39","slug":"follow-on-investment-akshayakalpa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zerodha.com\/z-connect\/rainmatter\/follow-on-investment-akshayakalpa","title":{"rendered":"Follow-on investment – Akshayakalpa"},"content":{"rendered":"

A bunch of us on the core team at Rainmatter have always been health fanatics. Over the last couple of years, natural curiosity about health and us talking about it on social media led to a lot of startups from the health space reaching out to us. This led us to a realization that we could support startups working on helping Indians make healthier choices that\u2019s how the health focus at Rainmatter began. In this period, the realization we\u2019ve had is much of the stuff that lands on our plates which we consume has been tainted in various ways. Not to sound morose, but from plastics to fruits and vegetables laced with heavy doses of pesticides, we are paying to poison ourselves.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest items in Indian diets is dairy. A few years ago, we met Shashi, the founder of Akshayakalpa. Speaking to him was a revelation because he gave us a crash course on all the things that were wrong with the cows and the milk we consume. For example, we learned that cows are always tethered and hence they tend to catch diseases which leads to indiscriminate antibiotic use, which ends up in the milk we consume leading to antibiotic resistance in humans. Antibiotic resistance is one of the gravest health threats we face today. Similarly, Shashi told us that bees are one of the farmer\u2019s best friends because they are excellent crosspollinators, but they are dying due to habitat loss, rampant use of pesticides on so on.<\/p>\n

Akshayakalpa is trying to solve some of these thorny challenges. Today, they offer a wide range of products from dairy to fruits and vegetables. The Akshayakalpa team works with farmers and local communities to help them implement organic farming techniques to reduce the use of antibiotics and pesticides and then sources the produce. It\u2019s not just about the quality. Akshayakalpa also improves the livelihoods of farmers who are at the mercy of rains, markets and middlemen. What excites us the most at Rainmatter is to help Indians make healthier choices and our desire aligns perfectly with Akshayakalpa\u2019s mission. We are super excited to join them is journey as they work to give Indians access to healthy foods.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an introduction by Shashi Kumar, the Founder & CEO of Akshayakalpa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Akshayakalpa works closely with young farmers who have discontinued farming operations due to economic non-viability and are groomed as entrepreneurs by providing bank linkages, extension outreach, technical services, and market access.<\/p>\n

We believe in a symbiotic relationship between human beings and natural resources. Therefore, by design, we follow organic production processes that integrate better soil management and build farm biodiversity. Furthermore, we use technology interventions to objectively evaluate and improve closed-loop farming ecosystems.<\/p>\n

On average, Akshayakalpa pays its farmers Rs. 100,000, per month for organic milk, organic poultry, organic banana, honey, tender coconut and millets produced in his\/her farm. Farms are heavily integrated with trees in bounds and hedges, and rainwater harvesting in farms and closed loop dung management has seen soil organic carbon in Akshayakalpa farms from 0.3% to 0.98% in 10 years.<\/p>\n

On the consumer engagement side, we strive to help families access food free of antibiotics and chemicals and help families embrace a healthier lifestyle by giving them convenient access to nutritious and fresh organic milk and other farm produce. We are determined to deliver milk and farm produce that is better for our consumers, our farmers, and the planet.<\/p>\n

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Shashi (centre) working on one of the Akshayakalpa farms<\/p><\/div>\n

We endeavour to bridge the gap between the past and the future, never at the cost of the environment. Sustainability is at the epicentre of our beliefs. This reflects in our ideologies and the practices at our farms and offices.<\/p>\n