Since stepping into the role of CEO at PxD in April, the past six months have been a whirlwind – challenging, rewarding and full of momentum.
As I reflect on all the things we’ve accomplished and what lies ahead, I hope this update will interest PxD’s friends and supporters and provide a glimpse into why I love this organization and the work we do.
Ambitiously Chasing Impact at Scale
This year, PxD helped deliver seasonal weather forecasts to 9.45 million farmers through a partnership with the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago and India’s Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Evidence shows that farmers respond to monsoon onset and seasonal forecasts by adjusting their investments—putting more into crops during favorable seasons, boosting production and profits, diversifying into business ventures during tougher years, and improving farmers’ welfare in both good and bad years.
But we’re not stopping there. Our goal is to scale this initiative to reach millions more, expand delivery channels, and support farmers’ decision-making through enhanced content.
We started out with an ambitious target of supporting 100 million farmers. We’re well on our way, with more than 17 million farmers reached in the last year. As climate change continues to impact agriculture, we are committed to equipping many more farmers with the information and tools they need to adapt and thrive.
Explore our initiatives to learn more about how we’re scaling innovations like site-specific fertilizer management, asset-collateralized loans for dairy farmers, and digital agricultural extension systems.
A New Delivery Model: Government Advisory on Digital Agricultural Strategy
As part of our strategy review and in response to increasing partner demand, we’ve launched an exciting new delivery model: embedding teams within government organizations to advise on digital agriculture strategy. These teams will focus on scaling evidence-based innovations, guiding program design, integrating cutting-edge technologies like GenAI, and evaluating program quality, among other key areas.
Our first Project Management Unit (PMU) is already embedded within the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare in India. In the first year, we’re helping the Ministry scale up a scheme advisory chatbot and a tool to improve the efficiency of call center agents, developing frameworks to assess the quality of various programs including AI-based tools and a pest surveillance system and building capacity to institutionalize these activities in the long-term. We look forward to announcing at least one more government advisory program in Sub-Saharan Africa within the next six months. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog from our India PMU team.
This doesn’t mean we’re stepping away from implementation. The insights we gain from working directly with farmers remain crucial. By embedding ourselves within partners, we can serve as a bridge between farmers and high-impact innovations and share learnings that can unlock scale, driving exponential growth and impact far beyond what PxD could achieve alone.
Continuously Innovating and Strengthening Our Organization
As PxD expands in size and reach, one of our key priorities is strengthening both our internal operations and external presence. Under the dedicated leadership of PxD’s Chief Operating Officer, Sara Godfrey, and Chief Financial Officer, David Sears, we’ve successfully upgraded our donor management and financial systems. You may have noticed increased activity on our PxD LinkedIn page, as we share more updates, engage in key events and build visibility. An exciting revamped website is on the way! We’re also in the process of expanding our board and advisory group to bring in diverse expertise and guide our continued growth.
Our Team: A Constant Source of Inspiration
One of the best parts of this role is meeting our teams, often over a cup of chai or coffee.
Starting my CEO journey with our leadership team in India was a reminder of the deep commitment and passion driving PxD’s mission. What keeps me energized every day, though, is our team’s unyielding focus on delivering meaningful impact. When I ask colleagues why they chose PxD, three themes consistently come up: “integrity about impact,” “inspiring and supportive colleagues,” and “ambitious scale”—and I couldn’t agree more. It’s a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team, and I’m eager to see how we’ll keep pushing boundaries to make a real difference for the communities we serve.
So, What’s Next?
Stay tuned for some exciting project launch announcements as we deepen our focus on helping farmers adapt to the changing climate, expand our government advisory work, and expand our presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We’re particularly thrilled about the upcoming release of the evaluation results for our flagship digital extension program in Odisha, India. Expect a communication blitz in the coming months, highlighting the hugely encouraging findings on how digital advice can help farmers reduce loss from weather shocks while proving the cost-effectiveness of these services!
Ultimately, witnessing the tangible impact of our work is what drives us, and we’re eager to share these insights with all of you as we strive to enhance our effectiveness and value.
As (a new) CEO, I’m filled with optimism for PxD’s future. I constantly ask myself how we can build on our strengths while remaining agile and impact-focused. We have a mission worth investing in, and it’s backed by an incredible team that truly believes in what we’re working to achieve. Together, we’re making strides forward – more to come soon!