NOĒSIS

Historically misdirected/misutilised subsidies of the Govt made it very difficult for private players to operate in the agriculture supply chain. With the easing of regulations, we are seeing a large number of new private ventures (traditional and new age startups) entering agriculture. That is a good sign.

However, what worries me is that some of these companies (startups) and their VC investors are looking at the agri supply chain “domination” game with a similar approach like the Uber/Ola/Flipkart/Amazon model of “world domination” by burning huge volume of money to deliver market distorting “subsidies” to capture market share with the hope that the last startup standing will win it all. (Remember the days when drivers and riders were being paid to ferry you around? Or deep discounted sales prices for products?)

While Uber/Ola/Flipkart/Amazon is still to prove business viability, they are already shifting gears and causing significant distress to the affected. It may be argued that they have distorted local transportation markets for riders (costs have gone up significantly and availability is still a major problem) and have left several drivers with debt burdens they can’t service. We don’t know how this will end. (Anybody who knows, I am ready to buy you a coffee.)

If the startups and VCs replicate the same model of “world domination” in the agriculture supply chain (particularly when dealing directly with the farmer), they will most certainly leave the agri ecosystem with much more pain and damage than what the Govt did with misdirected subsidies.

VC Associates and Partners with no special expertise or knowledge of agri markets but with boatloads of cash will continue to wear Rolexes purchased with fund management fees whether or not their invested startup works. Startup entrepreneurs with “game changing” ideas but no capability to build a profitable business or achieve frugal growth, will buy mansions in Koramangala or Lutyens and select the next “Entrepreneur of the Year”, whether or not their startup works. But the farmer will be stuck between the devil (Govt) and the deep sea (startups) after enjoying a brief period of money induced trance and exuberance.

I know some will agree with all that I wrote. Good to know. Let’s get some coffee and discuss more. I also know that some will disagree with all that I have written and say that I can’t see the “big picture” and worse I am a “communist”. True, I can’t see the big picture but atleast, I am not blind or a communist. Let’s get some coffee and see if you can help me see the “big picture” and if I can get your eyesight back.