Launch of Assam’s first ever Agribusiness Growth Lab to support Agri-enterprises

One of its kind programme to support enterprises in the Agriculture and allied sectors was launched in Assam. Assam Agribusiness growth Lab is a noval initiative by CIIE.CO an incubator of IIM Ahmedabad in partnership with Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) under the Assam rural infrastructure and Agricultural Services Society (ARIAS). 

CIIE.CO is working closely with Innovative Change Collaborative Services Pvt. Ltd. (ICCSPL) which is a development organization working for sustainable livelihoods in the Northeast India.  

This Initiative was launched on 30^th June at the Assam Agricultural University campus in Guwahati in the presence of industry associations, ecosystem players, agripreneurs, government stakeholders and the media. Agri-enterprises play a vital role in transforming the agricultural economy. This initiative is also crucial for creating a shift in mindsets of Assam’s youth. 

The event was inaugurated by Vinod Seshan, the State Project Director at ARIAS society. He focused on strict policy formulation for quality control and seed funding for Agri business ventures.  He also said that there is need to promote scalable Agri-enterprises and nurture their organic growth process with government support and technology transfer. 

Seshan believes that the time is ripe for various ecosystem players, government and private stakeholders, academic institutes and promising entrepreneurs to join hands and give a flip to the growth of Agri-businesses of the state.  

Hemendra Mathur of Bharat Innovation Fund (BIF) shared an investor’s perspective with the audience, on how the agri & allied sector is shaping India.  

There was also a panel discussion moderated by, Afreen rehman, Entrepreneurship Specialist of Assam Agribusiness Growth Lab programme. During this discussion, most of the entrepreneurs raised concerns over access to capital, knowledge- networking, linkage to high value markets etc. 

This programme will take a cluster and sector based approach to enable the local businesses to form forward linkages, leverage both external and internal business networks and strengthen value chain players for coming up with best quality new products/ services. 

AAGL aims to support and guide 100 Agri-entrepreneurs within a span of 4 years (by undertaking 25 each year) with at least 30% representation of women led enterprises from the state by providing them business and technical mentorship for up scaling their ventures. A special focus is set on supporting women led enterprises to make the programme equitable and provide a gender balanced growth. 

AAGL programme will also focus on enterprises working in areas like farm inputs, agri production equipment and services, food processing, agri based warehousing and logistics, farm to market connect services etc.