Anil Kumar SG’s journey from a bank clerk to the founder of Samunnati, India’s largest agri-enterprise, is truly inspiring. He began his career at a bank but soon realized he could do more to help farmers, who are the backbone of India’s economy. Many smallholder farmers were denied formal credit because they lacked collateral and institutional support. This motivated him to start Samunnati, an enterprise designed to support the entire agri-value chain, beyond just financial inclusion.
Anil Kumar was Clerk at ICICI Bank
Kumar recalls that while working at ICICI Bank, he saw how farmers remained excluded from formal finance. This inspired him to create a platform that unlocks their potential through innovation, empathy, and collaboration. In 2014, he founded Samunnati with the vision of helping farmers become active participants and leaders in the economy.
Moving from ICICI Bank to Samunnati required a complete mindset shift. He had to unlearn traditional banking methods and develop financing models that work for farmers without collateral or credit history. Convincing investors that agriculture could be viable and scalable was another challenge. Perseverance, continuous learning, and empathy were key attributes that helped him navigate the agri-finance sector.
About Anil Kumar SG
Anil has received awards/recognitions from several forums, including the Best Social Entrepreneur in the Global Social Entrepreneurship Programme 2018; the TiE Impact Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013; Real Leaders Impact Award 2020 (ranked 83 in top 100) and the ET Social Enterprise Start-up award in 2020. Anil is also on the task force for CII on Agri Start-ups and FICCI on Minimizing Food loss and Wastage.
Anil has close to three decades of experience in the areas of Rural, Retail and Agri Banking. Anil’s professional journey has lent him an understanding of Indian smallholder farmers. Prior to Samunnati, Anil was the Co-Founder & Trustee of IFMR Trust and the CEO of IFMR Rural Channels. Anil holds a Masters in Management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from Symbiosis Institute of Management, Pune and a graduate degree in Humanities from Osmania University, Hyderabad.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, taking the hardest decision becomes the most rewarding journey of your life.
Anil Kumar SG’s story is proof that dreams have no limits when driven by passion and purpose. Starting his career as a bank clerk, he had what many would call a “secure job.” But deep down, Anil felt that his true calling was beyond the four walls of the bank. He wanted to make a difference — to create something meaningful that could transform rural India.
With courage and conviction, Anil took the bold step of leaving his stable banking job to pursue a dream that few could even imagine — building a business that would empower farmers and revolutionize the agriculture sector.
His vision gave birth to Samunnati, which today stands as India’s largest agri enterprise, connecting thousands of farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and institutions across the country. Through innovative financing, market linkages, and technology-driven solutions, Anil has helped unlock the potential of India’s rural economy — proving that one man’s determination can change millions of lives. Anil Kumar SG’s journey reminds us that success doesn’t come from comfort — it comes from courage, clarity, and commitment. He dared to dream differently, and that made all the difference.
How Samunnati Works
Samunnati operates through a holistic model covering finance, trade, advisory, and technology:
- Unlocking Scale through FPOs: Partnering with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to provide collective access to finance, inputs, and markets.
- Reimagining Agricultural Credit: Samunnati Finance offers collateral-free loans up to ₹5 lakh to build credit history for FPOs.
- Market Linkage and Trade: Connecting over 30,000 FPOs with 3,500 agri-enterprises to ensure fair prices and faster payments.
- Advisory and Capacity Building: The Samunnati Foundation provides guidance on governance, sustainability, and financial resilience.
- Technology Backbone: Platforms like Samunnati.digital and the innovation lab SAIL deliver digital solutions, AgTech, and data-driven tools for farmers.
By integrating finance, markets, and advisory, Samunnati has helped many FPOs evolve into creditworthy institutions. Farmers’ incomes have increased by 15–30%, and transaction efficiency has improved. Kumar envisions Samunnati 2.0, focusing on technology integration and holistic solutions across the agri-value chain:
- Input Marketplace: Affordable agri-inputs for farmers and FPOs.
- Output Marketplace: Reliable buyers and institutional markets.
- Credit Marketplace: Seamless access to finance.
- Consumer Marketplace: Connecting farmers directly with end consumers.
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