Government to Start Rs. 500 crore Accelerator Programme for Agri Startups: Tomar

Tomar said that a high-level steering committee would be formed under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister for overall guidance of the Agriculture Startup ecosystem. A Rs. 500 crore accelerator programme for taking forward and popularizing the successful initiatives of Agri Startups will also be started.

The minister announced that an Executive Committee will be set up under the chairmanship of Secretary Agriculture, comprising of concerned agencies such as DARE, DPIIT, agricultural incubators and knowledge partners, agricultural universities, research institutes, top investors and other stakeholders.

In addition, a separate Division will be created under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary for Agriculture Startups in the Ministry of Agriculture. A cell will also be created to work as a single window agency for Agri Startups to facilitate all linkages required with certification agencies, financial institutions, agricultural universities etc.

The minister told the media that a marketing linkage will be created with organizations like e-NAM and NAFED to meet the market needs of the products developed by the Agri Startups. A website will also be developed to maintain a database for all Agriculture Startups and monitor their development.

He further said that in the last 8 years, it has been the constant effort of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India should emerge strong on the global political stage. He said if the power of our country's farmers, youth, Startups, etc are harnessed in a planned way with an eye on the targets, the day is not far when India will stand on the political platform of the world to guide everyone.

Tomar said that 8 years ago there were only 80 to 100 Agricultural Startups, whereas after PM Modi became the Prime Minister, the number increased to more than 2,000, out of which hundreds of them have been provided training and financial assistance under the scheme of Ministry of Agriculture. Now the target of the Government is to take this number to 10,000.

The Union Minister said that it is essential to popularize technology, only then people will get its real benefit, as well as technology should be affordable to the common man. Startups must work by deciding their focus and sector, so that farmers can draw full benefits of their output.

In view of the rising population of the country and the world, one should also work for food security, especially in view of the challenges of climate change. Startups should innovate with vision and determination.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Director General of ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak were also present on the occasion.