Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has informed that This Ministry has been implementing a programme called Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) since 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial and technical support for nurturing agri startups including agritech startups using digital techniques. Five Knowledge Partners (KPs) as Center of Excellence and twenty four RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed from across the country for implementation of this programme.
Under 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.
Besides, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been supporting Agri-based startups including agritech startups using digital techniques under the project called National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF) initiated in the year 2016-2017. It has two components viz. I. Innovation Fund; II. Incubation Fund and National Coordinating Unit (NCU). ICAR Agribusiness Incubators (ABIs) provide technical backstopping and other incubation services to startups /entrepreneurs including agritech startups. ICAR through its ABIs in 50 institutes has supported a total of 818 startups including agritech startups.
Under the Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship programme of RKVY, funds are released to KPs and R-ABIs and not state-wise. One R-ABI has been established in Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Hisar for supporting startups in agriculture & allied sector in Haryana. Selected agritech startups using digital techniques may take technical and financial support at the incubation centre established in CCSU, Hisar, Haryana under the programme for benefitting farmers including from Karnal.
Under NAIF programme of ICAR, one Agri-Business Incubation (ABI) Center has been established in National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal. Selected agritech startups using digital techniques in Karnal may take technical support at the above incubation centre. These startups benefit farmers by solving problems related to the farm economy and enhance profitability & efficiency of the farm sector.