ITC's agri business has emerged as India's largest private-sector agri enterprise, doubling segment revenue to nearly ₹20,300 crore in just over five years, according to Chairman & Managing Director Sanjiv Puri, speaking at the conglomerate's 115th annual general meeting on Thursday.
“With over a century of engagement with agriculture, 94 per cent of ITC’s businesses are linked to agri-crops or plantations, generating substantial livelihoods,” Puri told shareholders. The agri business now nurtures 21 value-chains across 23 States to source nearly 6 million tonnes of agri-produce annually.
Growth and Scale
ITC's agri segment revenue has grown from about ₹10,000 crore to nearly ₹20,300 crore in FY26, representing a doubling in just over five years. The company's ITC Next strategy is transforming the Agri Business while ushering in NextGeneration farming and rural empowerment, Puri stated.
| Metric | Value | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Segment Revenue | ~₹20,300 crore | FY26 |
| Revenue Growth | 2x (doubled) | 5 years |
| Value-added Agri CAGR | 33% | 5 years |
| Farmers onboarded (ITCMAARS) | 2.6 million | Since launch |
| Target farmers by 2030 | 10 million | Goal |
| Crop yield gains | 15–20% | Initial estimates |
| Net return improvement | 25–30% | Initial estimates |
Digital Transformation: ITCMAARS Ecosystem
At the core of this transformation is the ITCMAARS phygital ecosystem, designed to empower Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with digital technologies, hyper-personalised advisories, quality inputs, market linkages, scientific agronomy, and climate-smart practices. In a short span, ITCMAARS has onboarded over 2.6 million farmers across 11 States, with an ambition to benefit 10 million farmers by 2030. Initial estimates indicate crop yield gains of 15–20 per cent and improvement in net returns by 25–30 per cent.
Building on a recent horticulture pilot anchored by FPOs for the supply of high-quality fruits and vegetables, ITC plans to develop 4 additional hybrid Open-to-Sky and Controlled Environment Agriculture clusters to create a reliable, traceable supply chain for fresh produce. Progressively, ITCMAARS is introducing precision-led agriculture and advanced agri-tech solutions, such as IoT-enabled weather tracking, remote sensing, and drone-based services, to promote smart farming.
Value-Added Agriculture and Customised Farming
A vital component of ITC’s agri strategy is to promote value-added agriculture, enabling farmers to scale to the next horizon of profitable growth. This portfolio, which has grown at a CAGR of 33 per cent over five years, today encompasses certified organic crops, processed agri-products such as food-safe spices, horticulture, premium coffee, aquaculture, and attribute-specific commodities like high-starch maize and high-gluten wheat, Puri added.
Taking this further, ITCMAARS will drive a Farming as a Service (FaaS) ecosystem to 'Grow the Buy', where crop value chains are customised to meet specific buyer needs. This approach aligns ITC's agri business directly with commodity procurement requirements, offering traceable, quality-assured raw materials.
Outlook for Commodity Markets
For commodity traders and procurement professionals, ITC's scale and integration provide a significant supply source for Indian agricultural commodities. The company's emphasis on attribute-specific commodities (high-starch maize, high-gluten wheat) and certified organic crops addresses evolving demand from food processors and exporters. The digitisation of the supply chain via ITCMAARS enhances traceability, a key requirement for premium markets. As ITC expands its hybrid Open-to-Sky and Controlled Environment Agriculture clusters, the availability of consistent, high-quality fresh produce is expected to increase, potentially influencing domestic and export price dynamics. The target of 10 million farmers by 2030 suggests a continued ramp-up in volumes, which could improve supply stability for commodities such as spices, coffee, and aquaculture products.
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