Innovation

Jain Irrigation Systems or Jains is a multinational conglomerate based in Jalgaon, India. It develops, manufactures, supports, and sells diversified products, including drip and sprinkler irrigation systems and their components, integrated irrigation automation systems for monitoring and control, dosing systems, PVC and PE piping systems, plastic sheets, greenhouses, bio-fertilizers, solar power, solar water-heating systems, solar water pumps, turnkey biogas plants, photovoltaic systems, and tissue culture plants. JISL also processes dehydrated vegetables, spices, concentrated & frozen fruits, or pulp. It also provides turnkey projects and agronomical support services. JISL ranked 7th on the 'Fortune's Change the World list' as of 2015.

Jain Irrigation works on many fronts for sustainable developments. In India, 80% of the farmers are small-time farmers who own less than 2 acres of land. JISL works extensively on increasing the yield per acre. Their innovation in mango plantation helps in planting 760 mangoes per acre from traditional 40 trees.

Jain Irrigation pioneered in drip irrigation which helps in conserving 40% of the water used for farming. Jain Irrigation has been the largest manufacturer of solar water pumps and other agricultural machinery for a lifetime which boosts sustainable infrastructure development. Jain irrigation trains a large number of farmers on best practices which help them understand the latest technology and innovation in the industry, which in turn help them produce high quality and better yield.

Inspiration

"Leave this world better than you found it"- Founder Dr. Bhavarlal H Jain.

As one of the world's premier agricultural companies, Jain Irrigation's primary belief is that India cannot develop without agriculture and rural development. Also, No nation can develop unless agriculture and rural development are self-sufficient.

Dr. Bhavarlal H. Jain came from a poor farmer family from a village near the base of the Ajanta Caves in Jalgaon and founded Jain Irrigation. He applied for the public service commission after graduation and got selected for the position of the district collector. On the other hand, his mother stated that while joining the government service may allow you to flourish, doing something for the community will make you do good for society. She also suggested, "Develop a business that will have an impact on the lives of all living organisms, including animals, birds, trees, and farmers."

Under his mother's guidance, he founded a modest trading company to support farmers by providing agri-inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pipes. And over time, he grew the company. And when he discovered the farmers' predicament, instead of trading and earning money, he decided to manufacture those products and sell them to the farmers at a low cost. And it will be a win-win situation for both the farmers and his company.

Overall impact

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.“

Innovation is the actual application of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or services or an improvement in the delivery of existing goods or services. Jain irrigation is well ahead of the rest of the industries in innovation. Dr. Bhavarlal Jain, credited with being India's "Father of Drip Irrigation." This innovation assists in the water acquisition and significant improvement in productivity yield. The innovation entails seeking out more competent products/services and making them available to the most vulnerable customers, as Jain irrigation does for farmers on the ground. Due to the company's diverse operations, Jain irrigation is Asia's first and the world's second-largest food and processing company. It directly benefits small farmers. For example, banana tissue culture yield three crops in 30 months, whereas the old approach yield only two crops in 36 months. It also helps to double the weight of a bunch of bananas.

The company performed the world's first pomegranate tissue culture, recognized by the Harvard Business School. B-school also called some of the farmers to see how Jain irrigation can help them with irrigation, management, tissue yield, and increasing productivity. The chairman holds Padma Shree, one of the country's most prestigious awards, for innovations and sustainable business. Additionally, to assist farmers on the ground, the company is also working on solar pumps and AI-based automation.

Business benefit

Dr. Bhavarlal Jain established a dealership of tractors, sprinkler systems, PVC pipes, and other farm equipment, inspired by the slogan "Agriculture: a profession with a future." Farm inputs, such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, are introduced to agencies to broaden the agri-base. Business's Sales soared from Rs. 1 million in 1963 to Rs.110 million in 1978, a staggering 110-fold rise. They earned a reputation as reliable, trustworthy, and prominent residence with time. This background boded well for a foray into the industrial world.

In April 1978, Bhavarlal Jain purchased a 14-year-old ailing Banana Powder Plant at a high auction price of INR 3 million, although having just INR 0.2 million in inevitable surplus. Papain was swiftly produced from Papaya latex once the plant transformed. The creator flew to New York in December 1978 in search of clients for Jain Papain. The battle for raw materials at home and Papain sales overseas were fierce and suffocating. However, by constant in-house R&D, the company produced purified Papain and became the "Number One" supplier of the highest quality refined Papain. As a result of Papain's efforts, they have gained international recognition.

Manufacturing of PVC Pipes began in 1980 with a limited annual capacity of 300 MTs, but by 1997, they had grown to over 35,600 MTs per year, making them the country's largest single producer of PVC Pipes. The company has remained at the forefront. Thanks to a close-knit dealer distribution network in rural areas, constant automation, up-gradation of production facilities, and in-house R&D for maximum capacity utilization. These factors allowed them to expand the range to include Casing and Screen Piping Systems, allowing them to continue contributing to the expanding export quantities.

They labored and strived to pioneer water management using micro-irrigation in India beginning in 1989. They have successfully brought various high-tech concepts to Indian agriculture, such as the 'Integrated System Approach,' the 'One-Stop-Shop for Farmers,' and the 'Infrastructure Status to Micro Irrigation & Farm as Industry.' They have come a long way since then.

In 1994, JISL established a world-class food processing facility for onion and vegetable dehydration and fruit purees, concentrates, and pulp production. These plants are ISO 9001 and HACCP certified, and they comply with international FDA regulations. JISL aims to untapped agricultural resources, using local human resources and instilling a culture of excellence in quality and comprehensive customer service by combining western technologies with India's massive. They have established a goal to become a significant and dependable global supplier of high-quality food ingredients.

They have developed leadership in different goods such as Micro & Sprinkler Irrigation, Agricultural Inputs, Agro-Processed Products, and Plastic Pipes & Sheets with over 11,848 committed workers worldwide.

Social and environmental benefit

Jain Irrigation is the only company in India that is a pioneering manufacturer of hi-tech agricultural inputs, a Total Agri-Service provider, Training and Extension Institute, a large farm cultivator, and an Agricultural Consultancy organization. With such multi-dimensional activities, Jain Irrigation nurtured the complete Agri value chain and has become a One-Stop Hi-tech Agri Shop.

Their other businesses include PVC sheets, Solar Water Heaters, Solar Water Pumps, PV Panels, and Solar Lighting appliances, which emphasize conserving natural resources like forests and energy. PVC sheets can replace wood for building material and save our forests. Similarly, Solar Water Heaters and Photovoltaic Lighting systems use the abundant Solar Energy available for free and preserve natural resources such as coal used to produce electricity.

Agricultural and fruit processing waste are converted into biogas to generate power of 1.6 MW with waste heat for refrigeration and soil conditioner. They care for sustainable farming, a system they profess and practice under the aegis of JAINGAP. In the first year of operation, non-banking finance corporation SAFL has disbursed more than 30 million USD for smallholders to adopt agriculture inputs, including micro-irrigation.

Interview

Dr. Dilip Kulkarni, President-Sustainable Agriculture, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited