Rooted in the heartlands of Chite Pimpalgaon, a quiet village nestled in Maharashtra, Yogesh Gawande’s journey is a tale of purpose born from pain, and innovation shaped by empathy. Raised in a farming household, Yogesh grew up amidst cotton fields and soybean crops, witnessing first-hand the burdens his community carried, health hazards, financial stress, and outdated tools.
His early years of schooling, though humble, were rich with village spirit and familial wisdom. In 2008, a shift occurred when he moved to Aurangabad to pursue higher education under the guidance of his uncle, a Hindi professor. Even as he adapted to English-medium schooling, the plight of farmers stayed with him like a silent prayer.
During his mechanical engineering studies, destiny struck a defining blow, his brother was hospitalized after pesticide exposure through a faulty manual sprayer. This incident became the turning point in Yogesh’s life. Motivated by both personal grief and professional insight, he returned home and, at his father’s insistence, started conceptualizing a safer, efficient pesticide spraying solution for farmers.
Inspired by basic mechanical principles, converting rotary motion into reciprocating motion—Yogesh built his first sprayer prototype using scrap materials like bike wheels and discarded pipes. Though crude, the model worked. Encouragement from school teachers and a kind-hearted driver, Ashok bhau, further fueled his efforts. His first sale to a local farmer opened the floodgates of belief and ambition.
In 2016, Yogesh launched Niyo Farmtech, and began showcasing his invention on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube. His videos resonated with thousands of rural farmers, leading to his first bulk order of 65 units at an agricultural expo that December. His sprayers, built for ease, affordability, and durability, were exactly what the farming community had long been waiting for.
The following year, Yogesh crossed paths with Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST), and it proved pivotal. As he navigated his third and fourth year of engineering, BYST mentors like Sunil Raikatta, Milind Kang, and Prasaj Koke helped refine the product’s engineering quality, marketing strategy, and business model.
However, it was the visionary support of Ms. Lakshmi Venkataraman Venkatesan, the founder trustee of BYST, that deeply transformed his journey. Believing in his dream, despite his lack of capital or business lineage, she stood by his venture, personally mentoring his growth.
Today, Niyo Farmtech generates over Rs 2.2 crore annually through sales, spares, and rental services, offering farmer-first innovations that are field-tested, low-maintenance, and driven by ground realities.
“From forgotten fields to future farms, Yogesh’s dream runs not on profit alone, but purpose stitched in every screw and wheel.”
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