Scheme to boost startups in agri sector launched

The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) on Thursday launched "AGRI UDAAN" programme in which selected startups will be trained to develop innovative agriculture products.

The startups will learn about different aspects of capacity building such as technology commercialisation, business plan preparation, finance management, said Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director of NAARM.

"There are many ideas in the minds of the youth but they have to be turned into reality. Under the AGRI UDAAN programme, startups will be mentored to scale up their operations in agriculture value chain," Rao told reporters.

The Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad's (IIM-A) Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) is also a part of the programmec .

India is expected to produce 272 million tonnes of food grain this year but the scope of value addition and processing is limited, said N.S. Rathore, Deputy Director General (Education) of thed Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

"If we cannot do value addition, then we are lagging behind. We had implemented the programme on small-scale in 2015, in which three startups managed to materialise their ideas into innovative products," Rathore told reporters.

"Through this programme, we can nurture the entrepreneurial skills among people, especially the youths. They would be told about the opportunities and how to avail them. It will help them in arranging finance for their businesses."

The programme will also help in increasing farmers' income, Rathore added.

The six-month programme will consist of theory and practical, and shortlisted group of startups will be given training of procurement of raw material, its price management, skill development, trade management and utility management in order to ensure that the innovative ideas take shape of business ventures.

The NAARM has decided to promote the programme across the country through online campaigns and road shows in cities such as Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad.