From IT whiz to social entrepreneur, Rikin Gandhi leads Digital Green's mission to empower smallholder farmers

His areas of expertise include: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Rural Development and Empowerment, Project Management and Strategic Planning. His academic journey is marked by his pursuit of excellence and innovation. He holds a master's degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Space Engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he delved into the complexities of space exploration and engineering. His foundational education in Computer Science was obtained from Carnegie Mellon University, a testament to his technical acumen and foresight in the digital realm. Embarking on his career at Oracle, he was instrumental in the research and productization of a cutting-edge linguistic-based search system. This system revolutionized text retrieval by employing phonetic similarity and entity extraction for document matching, a contribution that secured him two patents and set the stage for his future endeavours.

Subsequently, he co-founded Digital Green within Microsoft Research India’s Technology for Emerging Markets team, a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to leveraging technology for social good. Under his leadership, Digital Green has flourished, becoming a beacon of innovation in the agricultural sector. His co-authored work, “Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles for Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” stands as a landmark study on the future of local and global agri-food systems, commissioned by Nature Sustainability as its 2020 theme expert report. His role as a TED Fellow and Ashoka Fellow underscores his influence and commitment to change-making. Additionally, accolades such as the MIT Technology Review TR35 and the Stockholm Challenge highlight his contributions to the field and his status as a thought leader.

Speaking to Bizz Buzz exclusively, Rikin Gandhi, Chief Executive Director at Digital Green, narrates his journey and also spells out how Digital Green is well set to change the agricultural landscape through interconnectivity and adoption of AI and other technologies.

How do you describe your organisation- Digital Green in short?

Digital Green is a ‘Beacon of Innovation in agricultural extension and global development.

When did you found this?

We founded Digital Green in 2006.

What is Digital Green’s mission that has been driving it over the years?

The organization’s mission is to empower smallholder farmers, which aligns with my vision of integrating technology with grassroots-level partnerships to drive sustainable development. Our collective profound experiences in India’s rural heartlands have shaped the organisation’s worldview and fuelled our passion for championing the cause of smallholder farmers.

How has been the journey so far?

Since its inception in 2006, Digital Green has emerged as a transformative force in the agricultural sector, dedicated to uplifting smallholder farmers through community-led initiatives and the innovative application of technology. With a steadfast commitment to sustainable development, Digital Green has become synonymous with empowerment in rural communities, not just in its home country, that is, India, but across the globe.

But it all began in the US? Didn’t it?

Yes. Digital Green’s journey began with its Global Headquarters in San Francisco, and it has since established a robust presence in India, with its national headquarters in Delhi and a Technology HQ in Bengaluru. The organization’s influence spans across the Indian states of Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Haven’t you expanded internationally in all these years? Or have you restricted yourself to India only?

No, no, we have progressed much on the overseas soil as well. Internationally, Digital Green has extended its reach to African soil with country offices in Ethiopia and Kenya, reinforcing its mission on a global scale.

So, what lies in the core of Digital Green’s operations or activities?

At the heart of Digital Green’s mission lies the innovative use of digital platforms to foster community engagement. By harnessing video technology for peer-to-peer learning, Digital Green has revolutionized knowledge-sharing among farmers, especially women in remote areas, fostering trust and encouraging the adoption of modern agricultural practices.

What is unique about Digital Green?

The organization’s unique model has garnered worldwide acclaim, earning it international recognition for its substantial contributions to agricultural productivity and community well-being. Digital Green’s focus on inclusivity and local empowerment has redefined the paradigms of international development.

What about your sources of funding? To put it in another language, how did you mobilise funds for the expansion, so far?

Digital Green’s impactful work has attracted diverse funding sources, including a significant $15 million grant received in June 2021. This funding has fuelled the organization’s consistent growth, expanded reach, and deepened influence, reflecting its unwavering commitment to its cause.

You must have had to evolve throughout your journey to keep growing over the years?

Yes, we have had to do that on a continuous basis. Continuously innovating, Digital Green has evolved its platforms, such as Community Video and FarmStack, positioning itself at the vanguard of the battle against poverty. Its enduring partnerships with government bodies, private sector firms, and rural collectives underscore its determination to forge a sustainable and prosperous future for smallholder farmers worldwide. We have had challenging times as well, including the global health crisis- the Covid 19 pandemic.

Our leadership team and its role has been crucial in steering the organization through challenging times, including the global health crisis. Under the core team’s guidance and active support, Digital Green has adapted existing videos to disseminate awareness and prevention measures for diseases via mobile and social media channels, aiding farmers in connecting with markets during lock-downs, and facilitating virtual training for frontline workers. The leadership team includes Ayushi Singh, Director, VISTAAR (DAES), Digital Green, who stands out as a distinguished leader in the digital transformation of agricultural systems in India. As the Director of VISTAAR (Digital Agriculture Extension System) at Digital Green, she is at the helm of strategic initiatives that are shaping the future of digital solutions in agriculture. Her expertise in system designs, convergence, and institutional capacity building is pivotal to her current role, where she oversees the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure in collaboration with partner organisations and under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India.

Artificial Intelligence is a much talked about subject now in all spheres. How did you embrace that and how did it help you in more ways than one?

Our commitment to the inter-connectedness of our world and the essential role of small-scale farmers in our food systems continues to inspire and fortify the team. With the integration of AI through Farmer.Chat, Digital Green has enhanced the efficiency of agricultural extension services, aiming to further reduce the cost per adoption.

So, what lies ahead? What is the ways forward?

As a member of the VISTAAR Network, Digital Green is poised to drive inclusive, farmer-centric solutions, empowering farmers to adopt climate-smart practices and confront the challenges posed by climate change. Our work at Digital Green continues to break new ground, with initiatives that have significantly reduced the cost per farmer of adopting more efficient farming practices, making our methods ten times more cost-effective than traditional approaches. By increasing farmer incomes and scaling reach with AI, our vision for a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future is becoming a reality.