The inaugural season of Shark Tank India not only propelled its panelists to fame but also provided a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations. Among them, Kamlesh Nanasaheb Ghumare, fondly known as ‘jugaadu’ Kamlesh, emerged as a breakout star with his pesticide spraying cart.
The Journey to Stardom
Ghumare’s journey began seven years ago when he embarked on designing a pesticide spraying cart to address the challenges faced by farmers, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Tarpada, a village near Malegaon, Maharashtra. His vision was to create a cost-effective and efficient alternative to existing sprayers, which were either cumbersome or prohibitively expensive for many farmers.
Shark Tank India Appearance
In the first season of Shark Tank India, Ghumare presented his prototype to the panelists, showcasing years of dedication and hard work. While he didn’t secure investment from all the sharks, Peyush Bansal, co-founder of Lenskart, saw the potential and invested ₹10 lakh for a 40% stake in Ghumare’s startup, KG Agrotech, along with a flexible, interest-free loan of ₹20 lakh.
The Evolution of Bharat K-2
Following his appearance on the show, Ghumare collaborated with Bansal and his team to refine his product. With feedback from stakeholders and assistance from Creative TR, a specialized organization in research and product design, Ghumare unveiled Bharat K-2, an improved version of his pesticide spraying cart.
Enhanced Features
Bharat K-2 boasts several enhancements over its predecessor. It is compact, lightweight, and more stable, facilitating easy navigation through farm terrain. The cart features a long-reaching spray pipe, adjustable mechanical arms to accommodate different crop heights, and a built-in pressure control mechanism. Ghumare claims that Bharat K-2 offers a fourfold advantage, saving farmers up to 12 hours of time compared to traditional sprayers.
Future Plans
With Bharat K-2 ready for production, Ghumare aims to gather feedback from farmers after selling the initial batch of 2,000 units. He plans to utilize this input to further enhance the cart’s design and functionality. Priced at ₹25,000, with a manufacturing cost of ₹20,000 per unit, Ghumare envisions Bharat K-2 as a game-changer for Indian farmers, offering both efficiency and affordability.
Jugaadu Kamlesh’s inspiring journey from rural Maharashtra to the national spotlight is a testament to the transformative power of innovation and perseverance in addressing real-world challenges.
