EF Polymer Awarded INR 2 Crores as Winner of DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge

DCM Shriram Foundation and The/Nudge Institute, in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, announced EF Polymer as the winner of the DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge. EF Polymer was awarded INR 2 crores for its pioneering solutions to enhance water-use efficiency and boost agricultural productivity for India’s smallholder farmers at a grand finale event graced by chief guest Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and Former CEO of NITI Aayog. CultYvate, an agri-tech platform by Farm2Fork Technologies, also received special recognition and was awarded INR 25 lakhs for its contributions to developing smart irrigation systems that simplify irrigation and provide farmers with advisory for effective decision-making.

Launched in June 2023, with the cohort kicking off in September of the same year, the DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge was designed with the goal to drive water efficiency, productivity, and profitability for 1 million smallholder farmers in India, focusing on four major water-intensive crops- sugarcane, wheat, paddy and cotton. It received 134 applications, of which 16 AgTech organizations were selected for the cohort, driving innovations across irrigation, BioAg inputs, advisory services, and more. Post evaluation, four finalists were identified for their breakthrough potential: EF Polymer, CultYvate, IndusTill, and PhyFarm.

India is facing a severe water crisis, with per capita water availability dropping below 1,486 cubic meters—well under the 1,700 cubic meter threshold for water stress. Agriculture, which consumes 78% of India’s freshwater, is a key driver, with 62% of its water coming from rapidly depleting groundwater. At the current rate, India will have only 50% of its water needs by 2030, threatening 600 million farmers. The DCM Shriram AgWater Challenge demonstrates the potential of AgWaterTech organizations to build scalable, high-impact solutions for water-intensive crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton, which are crucial to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers facing escalating water stress and climate-related challenges. 

Mr Ajay S Shriram, Chairman & Sr Managing Director, DCM Shriram Ltd and Director,  DCM Shriram Foundation added, “Water is the most critical resource for agriculture. Against the backdrop of the nation’s severe water crisis, this challenge forms a crucial mission to find and scale holistic, modern solutions to make water use more efficient for smallholder farmers. We congratulate the winner, along with the other finalists, for their pioneering work – and look forward to watching these solutions continue to scale and transform the lives of millions of farmers around the nation.”

Kanishka Chatterjee, Director, The/Nudge Prize said, “When we launched this Prize - the AgWater Challenge, we faced a complex question about groundwater depletion and smallholder incomes. Despite hurdles like free water access and fragmented decision-making, fourteen organizations showed exceptional grit tackling this high-impact problem. I'm deeply proud that all four finalists have set the foundation for an AgWater inflection point in India. Their commitment birthed India's first AgWater ecosystem, bringing together experts, investors, and enablers with genuine urgency. They've proven technological solutions can be both accessible and transformative for smallholders. The path remains complex, but we've shown innovative, scalable solutions are within reach. We should only go above and beyond from here.”

The winner, EF Polymer, is an agro-biologicals startup driving efforts to improve availability for agriculture. Currently operating in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, its product – Fasal Amrit – is an organic soil conditioner, that  can absorb water up to 100 times its weight. This ensures optimal soil moisture retention and boosts crop yields. Over the last two years, EF Polymer has covered over 17000 farmers across 11 states, increasing irrigation efficiency by 40% and 18.72% yield increase.

CultYvate, which received special recognition for driving affordable technology and data transparency for smallholder farmers, leverages IoT-enabled soil sensors, weather stations, and satellite-based remote sensing to deliver critical insights on moisture levels, crop health, environmental conditions, and beyond. Operational in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab, their services particularly benefit paddy farmers.

The other two finalists are also making remarkable contributions to the field. Industill Farmtech Private Limited provides an agricultural technology innovator called AutoFarm, to automate irrigation, promoting micro-irrigation and improving water efficiency. Its IoT platform automates irrigation and fertigation with smart devices, managed via a mobile app, this helps boost yield and efficiency while reducing water, fertilizer, and pesticide use.  PhyFarm (Physiz Agtech Pvt Ltd) offers irrigation automation technology that enables farmers to remotely control pumps and valves via a mobile application that measures and optimizes water usage using intelligent irrigation systems.

During this journey, the organizations also received mentorship from the advisors, jury, and key ecosystem partners including Hemendra Mathur (Investor & Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund & Co-founder, ThinkAg), Aruna Rangachar Pohl (Senior Advisor & Chairperson, Advisory Committee, IFHD), and Arindom Datta (former Executive Director, Rabobank). Additional key ecosystem partners include Emmanuel Murray (Investment Director, Caspian), Vilas Shinde (Chairman & MD, Sahyadri Farms), and Romiel Samuel (Founder & Executive Director, Indus Water Institute). Research, knowledge, and immersion partners include Ecociate Consultants, Deshpande Foundation, ThinkAg, The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, 2030 Water Resources Group, Villgro, Social Alpha,  Arghyam, the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India (MANAGE), and IIT-IIT.

About The/Nudge Institute

The/Nudge is an action institute building resilient livelihoods to alleviate poverty. We work with social entrepreneurs, women, farmers, tribals and youth on rural development, agriculture, skilling and economic inclusion, along with 15 central and state government partners. Set up with support from 100+ eminent philanthropists, 40+ corporates and 15+ foundations, The/Nudge is contributing towards a "poverty-free India, within our lifetime".

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About DCM Shriram Foundation

DCM Shriram Foundation, a philanthropic arm of DCM Shriram Ltd believes in responsible growth and driving social impact initiatives for the benefit of its communities. DCM Shriram Foundation is working on two focus areas: Water in Agriculture and Holistic Development of rural communities. The first covers agronomic advisory on water use efficiency, improving soil organic carbon, Agri - mechanisation with a focus on water use efficiency and advocacy related to this subject. The second covers programs on healthcare, sanitation, education and skilling to name a few. The Foundation’s holistic approach to betterment continues to facilitate positive transformation, creating a field of possibilities all around.

For more details: https://www.dcmshriramfoundation.org/