Research & Development
Developing new technology products & enhancements for small-plot agriculture is IDEI’s guiding mission. The ruthless pursuit of affordability, infinite expandability and miniaturising are a hallmark of IDEI technology development. Each IDEI technology is designed to be one-fifth the cost of its competitors, scaled down to fit one-tenth hectare plots, and able to generate sales at an unsubsidized market price. Characteristics of technologies suited for smallholders include:
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low cost;
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high return on investment (full payback in the first cropping season);
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divisibility;
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infinite expandability;
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simple and inexpensive to maintain;
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manually powered.
IDEI invests in constant product innovation and refinement to meet smallholder needs and stimulates supply chain growth. IDEI plans to further refine and improve existing product lines as well as to design, develop and disseminate additional technologies.
IDEI is developing a state of the art innovation 2 impact research centre in Bhubaneswar. Its role is to bridge the gap between the smallholder farmers and their technology (unmet) needs:
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Basis the ten point criteria for developing technologies as mentioned (under the technology overview section), each technology passes through the following stages of development:
1. Global Scan: this involves being updated with the products being developed in the market and narrowing down on those that may be useful to the smallholders.
2. Proof of Concept: if found useful then a proof of concept is constructed. This is done for both- those products identified through the global scan or otherwise.
3. Prototype: this involves construction of model to test the concept based on the parameters that would best suit the smallholders are set and based on the new parameters a proof of concept is constructed.
4. Lab & Field Test: If the product clears the above mentioned stages and is found to be useful for the target group then it moves to the next stage. Prototypes are put to lab testing under conditions where they would be finally installed (at the farms of smallholders) and then also installed and observations/ recordings made at the smallholder farms. As much as possible an effort is made to install them in different geographies (of the country) with varying conditions just to confirm the potential and utility.
5. Pilot Launch: if the product passes through the lab & field testing it is launched in the market as a pilot. The technologies are observed carefully and all recordings are made. Farmer feedback is also taken.
6. Commercial Launch: all feedback from the above stage(s) is incorporated and then the product is launched commercially in the market.
Currently IDEI has the following repertoire of technologies:
1. Water Lifting Devices
2. Water Application Devices
3. Water Storage Devices