Success Story: Karnataka’s women agripreneurs are leading the eco-friendly agriculture revolution
Success Story: As the pioneering creator of Neethi Bioprotectants, Dr. Rakshitha Mouly is a shining example of creativity and tenacity in sustainable agriculture. Her academic trajectory demonstrates quality and tenacity, as shown by her PhD in Life Sciences (Zoology), 12 years of devoted research, and 5 years of teaching experience. She received the renowned INSPIRE funding from the Department of Science & Technology in New Delhi to do her PhD study on organic integrated pest control techniques for mango pests.
Dr. Mouly’s academic accomplishments are a testament to his dedication to research and the betterment of society. She has shown her dedication to succeeding in her chosen area by earning a gold medal and first rank in her M.Sc. in Sericulture from Bangalore University. She has further strengthened her credentials as a scholar by passing the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) for lectureship.
Her efforts to handle organic pests in horticulture have transformed the industry. Her research portfolio demonstrates her innovative approach, which includes fighting mango fruit flies, creating herbal remedies for sucking pests, and even creating prediction models for insect behavior.
A Moment of Realization That Changes Lives
The path of Dr. Mouly is proof of purpose and change. Her work was mostly restricted to the academic realm when she was engaged in the regimented environment of labs, surrounded by piles of research papers, intricate data, and experimental sets. However, during her fieldwork for her doctorate, everything changed. She engaged with farmers at the local level as part of her studies on managing mango pests. Seeing their battles with persistent bug infestations and their desperate search for long-term solutions profoundly affected her.
with a fresh sense of direction. She decided to go out and implement her findings in a manner that would directly help society and the farmers because she was determined to close the gap between the scientific community and the needs of the grassroots.
Neethi Bioprotectants’ inception
Dr. Mouly established Neethi Bioprotectants, a business devoted to developing sustainable crop protection techniques, driven by her love of developing workable, environmentally responsible solutions. The company’s main product, the Thavee tree swab, is a proprietary, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for managing stem borers in fruit crops and stem bleeding in plantation crops.
Tree Swab from Thavee
Stem borers, bark cracking, borer holes, gummosis, pinholes, and stem bleeding are among the problems that this cutting-edge solution is intended to address. In addition to stopping more harm, the therapy promotes tissue regeneration and serves as a beneficial adjuvant. Its environmentally benign makeup makes it a useful substitute for synthetic pesticides and guarantees the safety of both farmers and the environment.
With a lifetime of more than three months, the Thavee gel is another innovative product that provides long-lasting advantages. It uses natural substances that are safe for the environment and human health, and when used as an adjuvant for pesticide applications, it offers durability, climatic resistance, and improved tissue regeneration.
Transitioning from Scientist to Agripreneur
Being a successful agripreneur after working as an academic researcher was no straightforward task. Despite her lack of business expertise, Dr. Mouly took on the task head-on and was eager to learn. She had to learn new skills, adjust to unanticipated challenges, and continuously push herself beyond her comfort zone as she started a business from scratch.
Despite these obstacles, her goal remained unwavering: to develop solutions that deal with the issues that farmers experience. Her business was successful because of her determination and creative thinking. Neethi Bioprotectants is now more than simply a business; it is a movement that promotes environmentally sustainable farming methods.
Strengthening the Agriculture Sector
Both for Dr. Mouly and the rural community she serves, her journey has been life-changing. Her products enable farmers to use environmentally friendly, sustainable pest control techniques that increase crop productivity and health. She has shown the enormous potential of research-driven business by transferring knowledge from journals to fields.
A Word of Encouragement
Dr. Mouly has shown throughout her experience that any challenge can be conquered with passion and purpose. As inspiring as her experience is, her advice to would-be business owners is, “Don’t wait for the ideal opportunity. Take the initial step if you have a strong desire to change the world and an idea, even if you lack experience. Learn, adjust, and keep going. There may be difficulties, but success will come if you strive to address the true problems.
Developing Agriculture’s Future
The narrative of Dr. Rakshitha Mouly is a brilliant illustration of how commitment, creativity, and empathy can come together to produce significant change. In addition to revolutionizing pest control using Neethi Bioprotectants, she has motivated many others to pursue their interests and help create a sustainable future. Her efforts continue to have a long-lasting effect on the agricultural community, the environment, and agriculture in general.
