From Data to Harvest: CropEngine Transforms Agriculture

NowWIN International is a forward-looking technology company committed to solving global challenges through bold innovation. Built on the foundation of strategic consulting, the firm delivers cutting-edge engineering and technology solutions across multiple sectors, including agriculture.

Harnessing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), NowWIN has developed CropEngine, a comprehensive digital agriculture platform. CropEngine empowers farmers with deep farm analytics and actionable insights, digitizes operations for end-to-end traceability and compliance, and delivers real-time alerts on critical farm events. Moreover, it recommends data-driven actions that optimize productivity, enhance sustainability, and prevent potential losses.

Through scalable processes and inclusive digital ecosystems, NowWIN International continues to advance empowerment, efficiency, and innovation across industries.

In an exclusive interaction with The Interview World at AgriTech 3.0: Smart Agriculture for Viksit Bharat, hosted by ASSOCHAM, Muthukumar Sundar, Managing Director, and Niranjan Kumar Shanmugam, Co-founder of NowWIN International, shared their transformative innovations in agriculture. They discussed how their products add tangible value to the agri ecosystem, deliver measurable benefits to farmers, and strengthen the sector’s technological backbone. They also highlighted NowWIN’s competitive edge and the versatility of their solutions across diverse crop systems.

Here are the key takeaways from their insightful conversation.

Q: Can you share the key innovations you have introduced in the agriculture sector?

A: Our flagship innovation, CropEngine, is an AI-driven precision agriculture platform that delivers comprehensive farm management solutions and actionable, data-driven insights. Designed as a suite of integrated tools, CropEngine brings together multiple technologies to empower agronomists and farmers alike.

To begin with, the platform incorporates satellite imagery that enables agronomists to analyze critical variables and monitor crop health, soil conditions, and field patterns from above. Complementing this, we capture extensive on-ground data through an array of smart sensors—including soil and NPK sensors—that provide real-time information on soil nutrients, moisture levels, and environmental conditions.

Our innovation extends further through two proprietary devices currently under patent application. The first, a soil moisture sensor designed specifically for paddy cultivation, delivers precise irrigation insights to optimize water usage. The second, a pest forecasting device, leverages predictive analytics to monitor and anticipate pest outbreaks, helping farmers take proactive measures to protect their crops.

In addition, CropEngine aggregates data from diverse sensor networks to track the crop’s growth stages and optimize nurturing practices throughout the cultivation cycle. By combining aerial intelligence with ground-level data and predictive analytics, CropEngine transforms traditional farming into a smart, sustainable, and high-yield operation.

Q: What stage of market readiness is your product at right now?

A: We are market-ready and have already implemented our solutions with Tata Coffee. At the same time, we are in active discussions with several other potential clients. Moreover, we are collaborating closely with CSR initiatives, which have a growing need to monitor and manage large tracts of agricultural land effectively. Given this alignment, the CSR sector represents a strong and strategic customer segment for us. In fact, CSR organizations make ideal partners for deploying our scalable, impact-driven agricultural solutions.

Q: How does your product add value to the agriculture ecosystem?

A: If I had to highlight one defining feature, it would be precision. After implementing our solution, we can quantify the exact impact—how much energy we’ve saved, how much water we’ve conserved, and how efficiently each resource has been utilized. This level of accuracy is possible because we monitor every stage of the farming process in real time.

Traditional farming has long relied on the deep intuition and experience of seasoned farmers. However, many new-generation farmers no longer have access to that accumulated knowledge. Through advanced devices and intelligent technologies, we are now able to replicate and even enhance that expertise scientifically.

At present, our ecosystem includes interactive dashboards, a robust web application, and a network of smart sensors—all working together to deliver this unprecedented level of precision and insight.

Q: How do you envision your innovation transforming the agriculture sector and benefiting farmers?

A: To make meaningful progress, we must first measure. At NowWIN, measurement forms the cornerstone of everything we do. We collect and analyze data across every critical aspect of farming—from soil strength and nutrient composition to water levels and pH balance.

In addition, our advanced weather stations capture more than 15 distinct atmospheric parameters, providing farmers with highly localized and reliable environmental insights.

By integrating these diverse data points, our system delivers clear, actionable recommendations—guiding farmers on what to do, when to act, and how to optimize each step of the cultivation process. As a result, farmers can significantly enhance both yield and efficiency, turning precise measurement into measurable progress.

Q: Can you outline the cost advantages of your product compared to competing solutions, and provide an estimate of the cost per hectare?

A: At present, our primary target customers include CSR organizations and large-scale farms managing over 100 acres of land, with our solution being most ideal for those operating 500 acres or more. As a startup, we are currently focused on delivering enterprise-grade solutions tailored to CSR and corporate farming initiatives.

However, we plan to expand our reach to retail and smallholder farmers in the near future. Our vision is to make precision agriculture accessible to every farmer, regardless of scale.

Currently, the complete farm automation solution costs approximately ₹10 lakh per hectare, covering end-to-end digitization and smart monitoring. As we scale our operations and optimize production, we expect the cost per hectare to decrease significantly.

Despite offering advanced technology, we remain highly cost-competitive—in fact, among the most affordable options in the market—reflecting our commitment as a startup to deliver maximum value at minimal cost.

Q: Is your solution applicable across different crops?

A: We have developed specialized algorithms tailored to different crops, enabling precise monitoring and management across diverse farming systems. For instance, our pest management and reduction systems for paddy effectively predict, detect, and mitigate pest outbreaks in real time.

We continuously expand our crop database and refine our models to support an even wider range of cultivation types. As a result, we now offer generalized solutions adaptable to nearly all major crops, ensuring comprehensive coverage and scalability across the agricultural landscape.