National, September 10, 2025 – Shunya Agritech, a rural-first animal nutrition platform, has signed a five-year MoU with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Institute for Research on Goats (ICAR-CIRG), Mathura, to collaborate on the research and development of hydroponic fodder systems aimed at enhancing goat productivity and strengthening farmer livelihoods.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Manish Kumar Chatli, Director, ICAR–CIRG, and Mr. Vijay Singh, MD & CEO, Shunya Agritech, in the presence of Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Hon’ble Minister of State, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India. The partnership holds particular significance given India’s 162 million goat population – the largest in the world and accounting for nearly 14% of the global total. Despite this vast livestock base, India faces a 35.6% deficit in green fodder, with shortages projected to only worsen if current trends persist. This gap threatens both animal productivity and farmer incomes, even as small ruminants like goats contribute an estimated ₹1,18,855 crores annually as of 2023 to the national economy, representing approximately 9% of the total value of output from the livestock sector.
The collaboration comes at a crucial juncture to provide scientific validation and scalable solutions for addressing these challenges. Studies have already demonstrated hydroponic maize fodder’s ability to replace up to 25% of concentrate feed in goat diets while maintaining optimal performance. By integrating Shunya’s climate-smart hydroponic technology with CIRG’s research leadership, the partnership will jointly optimise nutrition protocols, conduct on-ground trials, and extend best practices to goat farmers nationwide.
Shunya’s hydroponic model is designed to overcome sustainability and resource barriers. Using 99% less water than conventional methods, the controlled environment technology enables year-round production in just eight days from seed to harvest, compared to 45 days for traditional fodder. A unit occupying only 3500 square feet can produce up to 1,000 kg of green fodder daily – making it 90% more land-efficient than conventional cultivation.
ICAR-CIRG, established in 1979, is India’s premier institution for goat research, operating 21 research centres across 15 states and working with 15 registered breeds and 3 local genotypes. The institute has filed 18 patents to date and successfully commercialised technologies including Alquit, a green drug for parasite control. The MoU will establish a dedicated Growth & Logistics Centre (GLC) within the CIRG campus at Makhdoom, strategically located near Shunya’s existing GLC in Atus village. This will enable strong synergies across research, demonstration, and farmer outreach.
Aligned with national initiatives such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programme, the partnership positions hydroponic fodder production as a climate adaptation solution that ensures resilience against rainfall variability, improves feed security, and enhances rural incomes.
Research indicates that hydroponic fodder supplementation can increase conception rates, reduce veterinary costs, improve herd health and longevity, and deliver better feed conversion ratios. For farmers, these improvements translate into higher productivity, stronger income security, and reduced environmental impact.
Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Vijay Singh, MD & CEO, Shunya Agritech, said: “This partnership with ICAR–CIRG is a milestone in Shunya’s journey to make climate-smart fodder accessible to every farmer. By combining our hydroponic innovation with CIRG’s scientific expertise, we aim to deliver proven, scalable solutions that improve goat productivity, strengthen farmer livelihoods, and create lasting impact for India’s livestock sector.”
Dr. Manish Kumar Chatli, Director, ICAR–CIRG, added: “At CIRG, our mission is to enhance goat productivity through science, research, and farmer outreach. Collaborating with Shunya Agritech allows us to validate and extend the benefits of hydroponic fodder to farmers across India. Together, we will build evidence-based models that improve animal health, nutrition, and income security for smallholder and marginal farmers.”
The five-year partnership marks a significant step towards addressing India’s livestock nutrition challenges while promoting sustainable agricultural practices that can enhance animal productivity, improve rural incomes, and strengthen farmer resilience nationwide.