PUSA Krishi Organizes SAMARTH 2024 to Empower Agricultural Incubators

PUSA Krishi, a prominent institution under the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), recently hosted its flagship event, SAMARTH 2024 – Empowering the Incubators. The workshop is currently taking place from February 20-22, 2024 at the NASC Complex, located within the esteemed Pusa Campus in New Delhi. The inauguration ceremony was graced by key figures from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, and notable personalities from the agricultural sector. Anjul Tyagi, a Senior Journalist from Krishi Jagran participated in the event and engaged in discussions with prominent personalities.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Ashish Srivastava, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, along with Dr. Viswanathan Chinnusamy, Joint Director (Research) at IARI, and Dr. Akriti Sharma, CEO of PUSA Krishi, among other dignitaries and participants. Dr. Sharma commenced the proceedings with a comprehensive overview of SAMARTH '24, elucidating its objectives and the significance of fostering collaboration within the agricultural startup ecosystem.

Promoting Innovation and Collaboration

Dr. Chinnusamy underscored the pivotal role of startups and incubators in driving innovation within the agricultural landscape. He emphasized the importance of incubators in nurturing entrepreneurial talent and accelerating the growth of agri-startups. Ashish Kumar Srivastava, as the chief guest, lauded the government's support for entrepreneurship in agriculture and urged for greater collaboration among stakeholders. He commended PUSA Krishi for orchestrating SAMARTH, acknowledging its contribution to knowledge dissemination and networking in the agricultural domain.

SAMARTH 2024: Insightful Sessions

The workshop featured three insightful sessions on its inaugural day. Dr. Sharma led the first session, focusing on the 'Best Practices of Incubators.' This was followed by a panel discussion titled 'Building Collaborations: Govt & Non-Govt,' moderated by Dr. Hulas Pathak, Head & CEO of IGKV RABI, Raipur. The panel comprised esteemed individuals such as Devasis Padhi, Dr. Chhaya Chauhan, and Palak Kaur Bhatia, who shared their perspectives on fostering partnerships between governmental and non-governmental entities.

The third session, 'Sustainability beyond Govt Grants,' delved into strategies for sustaining agri-startups beyond government support, featuring insights from industry experts moderated by Dr. Dayakar Rao, Principal Scientist & CEO, Nutrihub.

Empowering Incubation Centers

The three-day workshop is tailored to empower and enhance the capabilities of incubation centers across India. It aims to disseminate best practices in startup management, foster entrepreneurship development, and host impactful incubation programs. The overarching goal is to ensure the holistic growth of the 29 KPs & RABIs (Krishi Prayukti Sthal and Regional Agricultural Business Incubation Centres), providing comprehensive mentorship and support for agri-startups nationwide.

SAMARTH, which is funded by the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors (RKVY-RAFTAAR) project, seeks to accelerate innovation, foster collaboration, and develop the next generation of agripreneurs. As the workshop progresses, it holds the promise of equipping incubators with the tools and insights necessary to drive transformative change within the agricultural sector.