Executive Interviews: Interview with Amitabha Sadangi on Social Entrepreneurship
May 2010 - By Syed Abdul Samad and P.Girija

Amitabha Sadangi
Founder CEO, International Development Enterprises India (IDEI)

IDEI

• How and why did you start International Development Enterprises India (IDEI)? What inspired you to work for that particular sector? What is the main motive of IDEI? What were the challenges you faced in its establishment?
  IDEI started off with working for smallholder farmers and empowering them to irrigate their land and make profit and with this additional income break the cycle of poverty.

• What were the early products and markets that your organization catered to? What are the reasons for choosing to operate only in few particular states?
  IDEI has always worked on providing low-cost irrigation solutions to smallholder farmers. There has not been any shift from where we started to where we are today. Yes in addition to this main focus, IDEI is now very seriously looking at issues around water, primarily because we realize that the perils of not doing so lie in endangering our planet and our very existence. Also, IDEI’s active engagement holds its roots in the fact that about XYZ% of water loss can be attributed to un-informed agricultural practices and, therefore, huge scope for course correction lies here.

• What is it that makes your organization more important or preferred by the rural farmers compared to the numerous government schemes that have been introduced to empower them?
  As opposed to the government schemes, IDEI, for one, specifically targets the smallholder farmers and two, does not believe in subsidizing costs. IDEI puts in efforts towards coming up with low-cost technologies. Further, IDEI functions on a strong market-based approach. This motivates the farmer to buy and own the technology for irrigation and thereby value it. The specific areas where IDEI scores above the government schemes include: Offering low-cost technologies that are suited to the farm size of smallholder farmers • Affordable: the cost can easily be afforded by the smallholder farmers • Extensive supply chain: IDEI promotes and safeguards the interests of the farmers and that of the supply chain. • Further, this supply chain handholds the farmer and provides technical as well as knowledge support.

• How does the organization work, i.e., from where do you generate funds? Are the funds sufficient?
  IDEI receives funding from a combination of sources. These range from private foundations to bilaterals. The funds, thus generated, provide for the running of the organization, research and development and creating the supply chain. This, in turn, equips us to provide low-cost technologies to the smallholder farmers.

• What are your business, operating and revenue models? Is your organization self-sustainable or does it depend on government or other organizations for funds, etc., or do you enter into partnerships?
  IDEI has a hybrid business model. IDEI is a facilitator organization that brings in investments with no monetary returns.
  In the process of initiating and implementing projects, there are few that require financial support for long, while others that become viable, spin off into commercial sustainable entities. At the same time, however commercial they may become, these projects continue to safeguard the interest of smallholder farmers.

• How have you people managed to come up with irrigation tool kits, like Treadle Pump, at a low-cost? How do you manage to bring in advanced technology to the doorsteps of the poor farmers?
  IDEI is committed to addressing the needs of the smallholder farmers and reducing poverty. As mentioned above, IDEI garners funds for conducting research and development. Since the costs towards these and market creation are supported by external donors, IDEI does not incorporate these in the price of the products. And hence, the low-costs of treadle pump and other technologies sold by IDEI. The intricate supply chain ensures that our technologies reach the smallholder farmers across the regions of our operations.

• Does innovation occur in-house at IDEI, or is it only a promoter of innovations created by someone else?
  Constant research and development is the backbone of our work and it is very much in-house.

• What are the other innovations of IDEI?
  

  Water Accessing: Low-cost tubewells Water Lifting

  • Bamboo Treadle Pump
  • Surface Treadle Pump
  • Modified Surface Treadle Pump
  • Pressure Treadle Pump
  • Rope and Washer Pump

  Water Application

  • Bucket Kit
  • Family Nutrition Kit
  • 100 sq Meter Drum Kit
  • Quarter Acre Kit
  • Customized Drip Kit
  • Micro Sprinkler