Sincerity as a Growth Strategy
As India’s food and agri start-up ecosystem accelerates, Akshayakalpa Organic is taking a distinctly different path. The organic dairy brand believes long-term success depends less on speed and valuations, and more on sincerity towards farmers, consumers, and sustainable practices.
At a time when many start-ups focus on rapid scaling, Akshayakalpa argues that agriculture requires patience, transparency, and deep structural commitment. According to the company, meaningful impact in food systems cannot be built on shortcuts.
Rebuilding Farming Economics
Shashi Kumar, Founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, said India’s start-up narrative often overlooks sectors like food and agriculture. These sectors face long-term, human-centred challenges rather than quick technology fixes. He explained that the core problem lies at the farm level. Farming, despite being essential, often fails to provide stable and dignified livelihoods. Unpredictable income has driven rural migration and weakened generational continuity in agriculture. Akshayakalpa set out to address this gap by making farming economically viable and aspirational again.
Farmer-First Dairy Model
The company adopted a dairy-led model to ensure daily cash flows for farmers. It focused on improving productivity while reducing dependence on external inputs. This approach has helped restore confidence in farming as a profession.
Kumar noted that many farmers associated with Akshayakalpa were once migrant workers in cities. Today, they operate profitable enterprises in their villages. The company deliberately works with one farmer per village, believing visible success creates greater behavioural change than scale alone.
Measured Growth with Commercial Strength
This philosophy has shaped Akshayakalpa’s expansion. From selling just 18 litres of milk in 2012, the company has built a processing capacity of around 2.8 lakh litres per day. Operations span Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with a new facility planned in Telangana. The company now works with about 2,800 farmers and closed 2025 with monthly sales of approximately Rs 50 crore. The performance demonstrates that farmer-first businesses can also be commercially resilient.
Strengthening Consumer Trust
Akshayakalpa also emphasises the role of informed consumers. By offering clean, traceable, and responsibly produced food, the company aims to connect consumer choices with farmer welfare and animal well-being. According to Kumar, trust between farmers and consumers strengthens the entire food ecosystem. Conscious consumption, he said, supports both sustainability and rural livelihoods.
A Different Vision for Start-ups
Kumar believes the future of India’s food and agri start-ups lies in institution-building rather than rapid exits. Sincerity, he argues, creates durable businesses that improve livelihoods and protect the environment. As India celebrates entrepreneurship, Akshayakalpa’s journey highlights an alternative growth narrative, one rooted in patience, integrity, and long-term impact rather than speed alone.
