Smallholder farmers in India are on the frontlines of the climate and agrarian crisis and they include most of the farming population in the country. They face high input costs, are very sensitive to climate risks, lack knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, and experience crop yields that are ~50% lower than the potential, leading to low and irregular income. They rely on diesel-based machinery for their energy needs on the farm, and switching to cheaper renewable energy is not possible for most farmers due to high upfront costs, lack of awareness, and financing options.

Oorja Development Solutions (hereafter referred to as Oorja) is a Farming-as-a-Service company working at the intersection of clean energy and sustainable agriculture. It provides affordable solar-powered irrigation, milling, and cooling services to smallholder farmers on a Pay-Per-Use basis, in the weak-grid areas of northern and eastern India.