Privacy policy

Your privacy is a fundamental priority at FarmGrade Organics Private Limited. This Privacy Policy ('Policy') explains, in clear and transparent terms, how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you visit or transact on www.farmgrade.in.

By accessing or using our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and consent to the data practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this Policy, please refrain from using the Platform.

This Policy is compliant with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and the emerging framework under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

1.  WHO WE ARE

FarmGrade Organics Private Limited is the Data Controller responsible for personal data collected on this Platform. We are a company incorporated in India, operating from www.farmgrade.in. For all privacy-related queries or requests, you may reach our Data Privacy Officer at privacy@farmgrade.in.

2.  INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1  Information You Provide Directly

When you register, shop, or interact with us, you may provide:

  • Full name, email address, phone number, and delivery address(es).
  • Username, password, and other account credentials.
  • Billing details and payment information (processed directly by our payment gateway — not stored by us).
  • Feedback, reviews, and communications you voluntarily submit.
  • Responses to surveys, promotional events, or competitions.
  • 2.2  Information Collected Automatically

When you browse our Platform, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address, browser type, device type, and operating system.
  • Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and navigation paths.
  • Referring URLs and exit pages.
  • Cookie identifiers and session tokens (see Section 7 on Cookies).
  • Approximate geographic location (derived from IP address).

2.3  Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

  • Payment gateway providers — for transaction verification and fraud prevention.
  • Logistics partners — for delivery address confirmation and tracking updates.
  • Analytics providers — for aggregated, anonymised behavioural insights.
  • Social media platforms — if you choose to log in or link your social account to our Platform.

3.  HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

FarmGrade uses your personal data strictly for legitimate business purposes, including:

  • Processing your orders, arranging delivery, and managing returns or refunds.
  • Creating, verifying, and managing your account.
  • Sending transactional communications — order confirmations, dispatch alerts, delivery updates.
  • Sending marketing communications (only with your explicit consent — see Section 8 on Opt-Out).
  • Analysing purchasing trends to improve our product offerings and Platform experience.
  • Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and unauthorised access.
  • Complying with our legal and regulatory obligations under Indian law.
  • Resolving disputes, enforcing our Terms of Service, and addressing customer complaints.

We do not use your personal information to make fully automated decisions that produce legal or significant effects on you without human oversight.

4.  LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING

  • We process your personal data on the following legal bases:
  • Contractual Necessity: To fulfil the purchase contract between you and FarmGrade.
  • Legitimate Interests: To improve our Platform, prevent fraud, and conduct analytics — always balanced against your rights.
  • Consent: For marketing communications, cookies, and optional data sharing — which you may withdraw at any time.
  • Legal Obligation: Where we are required to retain or disclose information under applicable Indian law.

5.  DATA SHARING & DISCLOSURE

FarmGrade does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for their independent marketing purposes. We may share your data with:

  • Logistics & Courier Partners: Your name, phone number, and delivery address are shared to facilitate order delivery. These partners are contractually bound to use this data solely for fulfilment purposes.
  • Payment Gateway Providers: For secure, real-time payment processing. These providers are PCI-DSS compliant and operate under their own privacy frameworks.
  • Technology & Platform Service Providers: Such as cloud hosting, analytics tools, email service providers, and CRM platforms — all bound by strict data processing agreements.
  • Legal & Regulatory Authorities: We may disclose data if required by law, court order, or government authority, or to protect our legal rights, safety, or the rights of third parties.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business, your data may be transferred as part of the transaction. You will be notified of any such change via email or a prominent notice on our Platform.

Except as stated above, your data will not be disclosed to any third party without your prior written consent.

6.  DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, regulatory, accounting, and dispute resolution requirements:

  • Account data: Retained for as long as your account remains active. Upon account deletion, data is purged within 30 days, subject to legal retention obligations.
  • Order and transaction records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years in compliance with Indian tax and financial regulations.
  • Marketing communication data: Retained until you withdraw consent or unsubscribe.
  • Server and activity logs: Retained for up to 90 days for security and operational purposes.

After the applicable retention period, personal data is securely deleted or anonymised such that it can no longer be linked to any individual.

7.  COOKIES & TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

www.farmgrade.in uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and gather analytical insights. We use:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for the Platform to function (e.g., login sessions, cart data). These cannot be disabled without affecting Platform functionality.
  • Analytics Cookies: To understand how users interact with our Platform (e.g., Google Analytics). These are anonymised and aggregated.
  • Marketing Cookies: To serve you relevant advertisements on third-party platforms. These are activated only with your consent.
  • Preference Cookies: To remember your settings, language preferences, and personalisation choices.

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality and user experience of the Platform. By continuing to use our Platform after reviewing this Policy, you consent to our use of cookies as described.

8.  MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & OPT-OUT

With your consent, FarmGrade may send you promotional emails, offers, newsletters, and product updates. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

  • Clicking the 'Unsubscribe' link at the bottom of any marketing email.
  • Updating your communication preferences in your account settings.
  • Emailing us at connect@farmgrade.in with the subject line: 'Unsubscribe — [Your Email Address]'.

Please note that opting out of marketing communications will not affect your receipt of transactional emails related to active orders or your account.

9.  YOUR RIGHTS

As a data subject under Indian law, and consistent with global best practices, you have the following rights:

  • Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right of Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right of Erasure: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention obligations.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for any processing based on consent, without affecting prior processing.
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: Report concerns to the Data Protection Board of India or any competent authority.

To exercise any of the above rights, please email connect@farmgrade.in. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request. Identity verification may be required before processing your request.

10.  DATA SECURITY

FarmGrade implements industry-standard technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction:

  • SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
  • 1024-bit encryption for payment-related data transmissions.
  • Secure, access-controlled server environments with regular security audits.
  • Role-based access controls — only authorised personnel access personal data on a need-to-know basis.
  • Regular internal security training for staff handling customer data.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. FarmGrade cannot guarantee absolute security but commits to implementing all reasonable precautions and to notify you promptly in the event of a material data breach, as required by law.

11.  THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., social media platforms, payment portals, or logistics tracking pages). This Privacy Policy applies solely to www.farmgrade.in. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party website, and we encourage you to review the respective privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

12.  CROSS-BORDER DATA TRANSFERS

FarmGrade primarily stores and processes data within India. However, certain third-party service providers (such as cloud platforms or analytics tools) may process data in jurisdictions outside India. In all such cases, we ensure that appropriate contractual safeguards are in place to ensure your data is protected to a standard no less than that required under Indian law.

13.  CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

FarmGrade Organics Private Limited reserves the right to amend, update, or replace this Privacy Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated to registered users via email or a prominent notice on the Platform. The revised Policy will be effective from the date of publication on www.farmgrade.in. Your continued use of the Platform after such publication constitutes your acceptance of the updated Policy.

We recommend reviewing this Policy periodically to stay informed of how we handle your data.

14.  CONTACT — DATA PRIVACY OFFICER

For all privacy-related queries, requests, or concerns, please contact:

  • Email: connect@farmgrade.in
  • Website: www.farmgrade.in