Prasanna Rao is an influential figure in the agricultural warehousing and collateral management industry. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Arya.ag, which was previously known as Arya Collateral Warehousing Services Pvt. Ltd. Under his leadership, Arya has grown to become one of India’s largest post-harvest service providers, focusing on providing solutions such as warehousing, warehouse receipt financing, and rural storage discovery, among others. Prasanna Rao's efforts have significantly contributed to improving agricultural supply chains and providing financial and logistic solutions to smallholder farmers across India.
2024 (August): Arya Collateral Warehousing Services Pvt. Ltd revealed a substantial $60 million fundraising round from various investors including Asia Impact SA and others, which valued the company at $300 million. The funds aim to enhance their market share in India's agricultural sectors and develop more services to strengthen their position as a trusted platform in agriculture.
2024 (May): Arya launched a rural storage discovery platform to further facilitate the expansion of their warehousing solutions across India. This initiative is part of Arya's aim to build a pan-India agri-warehousing marketplace.
2023: Prasanna Rao participated in the Philippine National Corn Congress, showcasing Arya's model which emphasized market linkages and post-harvest solutions that could be applicable for the Philippines agri-sector.
2022: The platform, Arya.ag, was highlighted for its efforts in improving financial inclusion for smallholder farmers through innovative solutions that blend warehousing with financial services, creating a comprehensive suite of services under one platform.
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Margapuri Prasanna Rao |
| Born | Not publicly available |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | CEO, Co-Founder of Arya.ag |
| Known For | Transforming agricultural warehousing in India |
| Net Worth | Not publicly available |
| Education | Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management, IRMA |
Prasanna Rao has a strong foundation in agricultural and rural management, which has significantly influenced his career trajectory. He completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) in India in 1999. His initial career revolved around cooperative marketing, FMCG sales, and agri-financing sectors, providing him with a deep understanding of rural economies and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. These early experiences shaped his vision to establish a more integrated and efficient system of agri-collateral management and warehousing.
Prasanna Rao’s career is distinguished by significant strides in agricultural financing and warehousing.
Currently, Prasanna Rao continues to drive Arya.ag towards revolutionizing the agricultural sector in India, focusing on creating a robust and efficient supply chain for agricultural commodities. The company’s impact in the sector is evident through its various initiatives aimed at improving financial access and operational efficiency for farmers and agribusinesses. Arya.ag continues to expand its footprint across India, developing new platforms and services that address the needs of the agricultural supply chain comprehensively.
Prasanna Rao’s vision and leadership have positioned Arya.ag as a formidable force in agricultural warehousing and collateral management. His work has significantly impacted India’s agricultural landscape, offering improved market access and financial solutions to smallholder farmers. As Prasanna Rao continues to innovate in this field, the potential for Arya to expand its influence across more regions and further integrate technology with agriculture promises a strong future ahead, sustaining the momentum for a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector in India.