| Work Detail |
Wavar, an agri-community platform specializing in integrated pest management (IPM), is setting its sights on covering over 1 million acres of agricultural land within the next 18 months. The initiative aims to enhance farmer profitability and produce low-residue commodities by leveraging its innovative products and services.
Co-Founder Sanjay Shirodkar highlighted the company’s commitment to scaling its IPM offerings, which have demonstrated success in reducing chemical exposure while boosting crop yields. “By implementing our practices, we aim to effectively eliminate billions of pests from these areas and decrease chemical usage by 30-40%,” he stated.
The primary focus for Wavar’s expansion will be in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh over the next 18 months. Following this, the company plans to extend its reach into Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Wavar will concentrate on key crops such as chili, turmeric, cotton, tomato, onion, pomegranate, watermelon, mango, and banana for its extensive 1 million-acre initiative. Shirodkar explained, “These crops are widely cultivated in our target regions, and IPM practices have shown significant improvements in both yield and quality. Our goal is to help more farmers achieve sustainable growth by expanding our coverage.”
Since its establishment in 2019, Wavar has developed a network of 300 dealers across 65 districts, reaching approximately 250,000 farmers and implementing IPM practices on over 40,000 acres of agricultural land.
When asked about the uniqueness of Wavar’s IPM practices compared to others in the market, Shirodkar emphasized the comprehensive nature of their offerings. Wavar provides tailored IPM packages for more than 30 crops, addressing specific pest challenges while ensuring quality results through controlled production of IPM tools. The Wavar app also plays a pivotal role in knowledge sharing, offering guidance in multiple languages to help farmers make informed decisions.
Wavar’s support extends beyond products, offering post-sale assistance, agronomy guidance, and on-ground services to facilitate the successful implementation of IPM practices. The company is also preparing to launch “Wavar Mitra and Saheli,” a digital platform designed to empower rural entrepreneurs through group deals and social commerce, thereby creating new income opportunities for local communities.
Currently, Wavar has implemented its IPM practices on 40,000 acres, focusing on crops such as chili, tomato, pomegranate, cotton, guava, and more in states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Telangana.
Shirodkar reported an average yield improvement of 30% and a 50% increase in overall produce quality. Additionally, farmers have experienced lower input costs and better market prices due to the low-residue crops produced through Wavar’s IPM methods.
The company’s IPM service package features a mechanical trapping system that naturally captures pests without exposing crops to chemicals. This innovative solution utilizes color and pheromones to attract pests, disrupt their life cycle, and control populations by up to 60-70%. |
