By Raksha Choubey
In a world where climate change, rising energy costs, and agricultural uncertainties continue to burden farmers, AgriVijay stands out as a beacon of innovation and hope. Founded during the turbulent months of the COVID-19 pandemic, this mother–son initiative from Ajmer is redefining how rural India adopts renewable energy. 
Grounded in empathy, experience, and a vision for climate resilience, AgriVijay brings sustainable solutions directly to the farms and households that need them the most. What began as a simple conversation between a mother and her son has today evolved into a movement that aims to transform agriculture, enhance incomes, and build a greener future for generations to come.
A candid interview with Ms. Shobha Chanchlani, Co-Founder and Director of AgriVijay, sheds light on the company’s purpose and progress.
What made you start AgriVijay, and how did you come up with the idea of combining renewable energy with farming?
As a mother–son duo from Ajmer, both Vimal and I come from very different yet complementary backgrounds. I hold two master’s degrees — M. Com and M.Lib — and have spent 30+ years serving the Government of Rajasthan in the field of education. AgriVijay is my second innings after retirement, driven by the desire to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
Vimal, with his engineering background and an MBA in Agribusiness, has a decade of experience across companies like Bisleri, ICICI Bank, Sony Pictures Networks, and multiple agritech and social-impact start-ups such as AgriBolo, Ugaoo.com, Dharmalife, and Sistema.bio.
During COVID-19 in 2020, I asked Vimal a simple question:
“You have built companies for other founders. Can you build one with me, one that solves a real, long-term problem for farmers and rural households?”
This conversation sparked the beginning of AgriVijay. With Vimal’s vision and my retirement savings, we launched AgriVijay in June 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, to make renewable energy accessible to farmers. Over time, our vision has expanded to include future-forward areas such as AgriVoltaics, carbon credits, and climate-positive farming solutions.
Can you tell me how your Energy Advisory Recommendation works for farmers and why it is useful?
AgriVijay is India’s first curated marketplace and agritech climate-action social enterprise offering solar, biogas, electric, agritech, and organic products under one roof. Our Energy Advisory Recommendation approach is highly customised and impact-driven.
We begin by understanding each farmer’s:
- Energy consumption
- Agricultural operations
- Crop patterns
- Waste availability
- Capacity to integrate technologies like AgriVoltaics
Before recommending solutions, we assess their suitability for:
- Biogas generation
- Solar-powered machinery
- Electric farm solutions
- Solar-on-farm structures enabling dual land use through AgriVoltaics
- Carbon credit eligibility in the future
We provide complete end-to-end support — including advisory, financing, installation, servicing, and climate-benefit documentation, ensuring farmers achieve savings, productivity, reduced diesel dependence, and verified emission reduction. Our work strongly aligns with UN SDGs 1, 3, 5, 7 & 13.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while introducing renewable energy products to villages, and how did you deal with them?
Building the right team in rural India, where renewable energy awareness is still limited, was a major challenge. We addressed this by training and up-skilling local youth to create a capable on-ground workforce.
Funding was another hurdle. AgriVijay’s position at the intersection of agritech, cleantech, and social impact made it difficult for investors to categorise us. Although fundraising was slow in the beginning, grit and clarity of purpose helped us secure seed funding, which opened the door to further opportunities. Through it all, the visible impact on farmers kept us motivated.
How do you see AgriVijay helping farmers save money, earn more, and also fight climate change?
AgriVijay empowers farmers in three major ways:
- Saving Money
Renewable energy adoption reduces diesel, LPG, and electricity costs. AgriVoltaics allows energy generation without sacrificing agricultural productivity. - Increasing Income
Solar dryers, solar atta chakkis, solar vermicelli machines, and other agro-machinery help farmers diversify income, reduce losses, and boost productivity. AgriVoltaics enables dual income through crops and solar power, while carbon-credit readiness offers future earnings. - Combating Climate Change
Every installation reduces CO₂ and methane emissions. By preparing farmers for the carbon economy, AgriVijay transforms farms into climate-positive enterprises.
How do things like your AI chatbot, e-commerce site, and village stores help people learn about renewable energy?
To make renewable energy understandable and accessible, we created a strong phygital ecosystem:
- AI-enabled WhatsApp chatbot offering guidance in simple language
- An easy-to-navigate website with curated renewable products
- Local-language call centres offering personalised support
- Field sales and technical teams teaching farmers directly
- Village-level Renewable Energy Stores providing demos, purchase support, and after-sales service
This ecosystem builds awareness, trust, and convenience, strengthened by long warranties, financing options, insurance, and reliable service.
What are your hopes for the future of AgriVijay, and what more do you want to do to support farmers and rural communities?
Our long-term aspirations include:
- Onboarding 10 lakh farmers and rural households into renewable-energy ecosystems
- Abating 10 lakh tons of GHG emissions
- Establishing 10,000 Renewable Energy Stores by 2030
- Becoming a full-stack renewable-energy provider for rural India
- Expanding to services like KCC assistance and rural financial solutions
- Scaling AgriVoltaics nationwide
- Preparing farmers for the carbon-credit economy
Our goal is simple yet powerful — to make renewable energy accessible, affordable, and transformative.
Can you share the struggles you have faced to reach here?
Starting during COVID-19 meant navigating uncertainty every single day. Building trust in rural communities required patience and consistency. As a woman founder returning to professional life after retirement, adapting to the demands of a fast-paced start-up world was another significant challenge.
Fundraising difficulties, team-building struggles, and slow early adoption often tested our resilience. Yet, the belief that renewable energy can change farmers’ lives and protect our planet kept us moving forward. Every challenge strengthened our determination, shaping AgriVijay into a purpose-driven organisation.
The AgriVijay journey is more than a business story; it is a testament to courage, innovation, and a heartfelt commitment to rural India. From a humble beginning during a global crisis, the organisation has grown into a changemaker that empowers farmers with sustainable technology, financial resilience, and climate-smart solutions.
As AgriVijay continues to expand its footprint, its mission remains unwavering in its aim to create a future where every farmer thrives, every household is energy-secure, and every village moves confidently towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.