Amaravati, December 28: A rural startup in Kakani village, Palnadu district near Narsaraopet, is reshaping agricultural waste management. Agriware, launched in 2024 by Rayudu Rajya Lakshmi and Venkata Ramana alongside family partners, uses paddy by-products from local mills and farms to produce single-use tableware.
The process heats rice husk, bran, and straw to high temperatures before moulding them with CSIR-supported technology on imported machines. The venture produces plates (10-12 inches), cups, bowls and spoons that biodegrade in 90-120 days, stay toxin-free and even serve as safe animal feed, retaining nutrients like vitamins B and K.
Priced accessibly at Rs 7 for a plate, Rs 3-4 for cups and bowls, the items resist fungus better than alternatives and appeal for events in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru. With Rs 3 crore invested and a daily output of around 1,500 pieces, Agriware boosts local farmers via straw purchases and fights single-use plastic that clogs landfills after gatherings.
