Agriculture Startup: How government is helping in strengthening the agriculture startup ecosystem, Explained

The Agri-startups provide help to the farmers by offering expert advice on how to manage the crops and boost productivity. With the help of data and technology, they solve problems or concerns for farmers. It also assists farmers in learning about high-quality agricultural inputs.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, announced some major initiatives for agriculture startups yesterday, October 18, 2022.

• The Agri Startup conference was organized on the second day of the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Sammelan at Pausa Mela Ground, which is situated in Delhi. The Union Minster of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, said that a high-level steering committee will be set up under the chairmanship of the agriculture minister for overall pilotage of the Agriculture Startup ecosystem. He also informed us that a 500-startup accelerator programme will be started to take forward and popularize the successful initiatives of Agri-startups
• . Under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary for Agriculture Startups in the Ministry of Agriculture, one separate division will be created. A cell will also be created for working as a single-window agency. It will help to facilitate all the linkages that are required with certification agencies like financial institutions and agricultural universities, etc. He added that marketing strategies and linkages will be created with organizations like e-Nam and NAFED to fulfil the market requirements of the products.
• A single portal will be established to track the progress of Agricultura startups. The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare said that there will be an Agri-Startups conclave and an exhibition that will be organized at national as well as regional level so that we can promote startups in the agriculture sector.
• Tomar appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that it is through the constant hard work of our prime minister that India should emerge on the global political stage.
• If the youth of our country, farmers, and startups start working in a planned manner, then that day is not that far when India will stand on the political platform of the world to pilotage everyone. Our Prime Minister always encouraged the NRI by interacting with them whenever he went abroad.
• Our Prime Minister has encouraged our youths to become self-reliant Indians and he has also encouraged vocals for local Those people who feel pride in putting foreign pens in their pockets now feel pride in carrying bamboo pens, which are made by self-help groups. Before this, people were fascinated with going abroad and working there. But now, people are taking pride in opening their own enterprises in India, quitting lucrative jobs in foreign countries.
• Eight years ago, only 80-100 agricultural startups were available. After winning the Prime Ministerial post, the hard work of our prime minister, Modi, made a significant impact in the agriculture sector.
• Now, compare the numbers, there are over 2000 agricultural startups established, of which 100 of them are providing training and financial assistance under the Ministry of Agriculture. The government’s target is to increase that number and touch it at around 10,000.
• The government is working hard towards the development of the agricultural sector. It is committed to developing technology. The aim of the government is to make startups useful not just for our country but for the world by solving the challenges and issues faced by farmers. In this direction, the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE), and other institutions such as ICAR-Indian Council of Agricultural Research are working with the greatest commitment.
• Tomar said that it is very necessary that we popularize the technology. Only then will people get real benefit from it. It should be affordable for everyone, especially for the average man. Startups should work on the basis of the sectors and focus so that farmers can take full advantage of their outputs.
• In this growing population, it is important that one should also work for food security, keeping in mind the climate change challenges faced by the people .
• The startups should be driven by vision and determination. He added that we will be a developed nation by the centennial year of our independence. Shri Tomar said that the government of India, with uttermost commitment, stood shoulder to shoulder with the startups towards this goal.

AGRI-TECH START-UPS ARE CRITICAL TO INDIA’S FUTURE ECONOMY

• The Minister of State ( Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Earth Science and the Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space Dr Jitendra Singh said the third edition of ” Tech Bharat” on the theme ” Transforming India’s Food Tech, Agri Tech and Agronomic Landscape” is a timely one as agriculture is one of the important pillars for the Indian economy.
• Around 54% of the Indian population depends on agriculture, and it accounts for 20% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). He said that India has seen steady growth in the last few years in the agricultural sector, but not much effort has been made to encourage the youth, who have fresh and innovative ideas.
• Dr Jitendra informed the people that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched around 100 made-in-India agricultural drones across the country in February this year.

AGRI-TECH STARTUPS March 29, 2022

• The Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing a programme known as Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) since 2018-2019 with the goal of promoting innovative ideas and Agri-entrepreneurship by giving financial and technical support for nurturing Agri-startups by using digital techniques.
• For implementation of this programme, the government has appointed around five knowledge partners (KPs) as centers of excellence and twenty-four RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri-bus Incubators.
• In the Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development Programme, a total of 799 start-ups in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, including AgriTech startups, have been provided technical and financial support.
• The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been supporting Agri-Tech startups using digital techniques under a project called the National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF). which was initiated in 2016-2017. ICAR has supported around 818 startups, including Agri-Tech startups.
• In the Agri-Entrepreneurship programme of RKVY, funds are given to KPs and R-ABIs and not state wise. One R-ABI has been launched at Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Hisar to support startups in agriculture and allied sectors in Haryana. Those Agri-Tech startups that use digital techniques must seek technical and financial assistance from the incubation center established at CCSU, Hisar, Haryana, as part of the farmers’ benefit program.

BUDGET ON AGRICULTURE START-UPS

The Agriculture Ministry’s budget for this year on agricultural start-up has been given special emphasis. By initiating farmer-friendly schemes, Under the guidance of our PM, the agriculture sector of our country will reach a new height. There are so many hopes and expectations of people in the agriculture sector. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, it is moving forward in full force.