At this farm in Bengaluru, a unique confluence of tradition and technology is reshaping the contours of mango cultivation. Here lies MangoMaze – a thriving orchard of 25,000 mango trees, where mangoes are being grown using drones, drip irrigation systems, and sensors to manage resources precisely.

The AI-driven drones quietly hum across the canopy, collecting vital data on tree health and pest presence. These flying marvels send real-time imagery and analytics back to the farm’s nerve centre, where adjustments in care can be curated with precision.

Drip irrigation systems reduce water use by a remarkable 70 percent by using technology to target specific needs rather than blanket irrigation, ensuring that every droplet counts in nurturing the luscious Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes to perfection.

This minimises wastage and ensures that each tree receives the necessary nourishment. Interestingly, this method intensively plants 1,450 trees per acre — 15 times the traditional amount.

Behind this is the quantum density farming technique employed by Suraj Panigrahy. We sat down with him to learn how this technique can redefine the way mangoes are grown in India.

Why Europe has all the fun

A BITS Pilani alumnus, Suraj worked for about two decades in the corporate sector at companies like Wipro, Nokia, and Make My Trip, before embarking on this unique journey that takes him back to his roots.

With his father serving in the Indian Navy, Suraj’s formative years were spent across various parts of India, unknowingly sowing the seeds of a global perspective. His professional stints took him across continents, from the US to Europe, where he absorbed diverse agricultural practices, notably grapevine farming in Europe.

During his time working with an agritech startup focused on the vineyards and wine industry, Suraj was exposed to a fusion of advanced analytics and farming methods across various European countries, including Austria, Italy, Germany, and France. This exposure introduced him to the high efficiency and market sophistication of the European grape cultivation methods.

“Those grapevines flourished in tight proximity, each precisely nurtured with an exact mix of nutrients and care. I was impressed by how these practices elevated the humble grape into a........

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