Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar today made several key announcements which took major policy initiatives for agri start-ups. At the Agri Startup Conference organized on the second day of the Prime Minister’s Kisana Samman Sammelan at Pusa Mela Ground in Delhi, Shri Tomar informed that a high level steering committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Minister for overall management of the agriculture startup ecosystem. A Rs 500 crore acceleration program will be launched to advance and popularize successful Agri Startups initiatives.
Amidst a large gathering of Agri Startup delegates, Shri Tomar announced that an Executive Committee will be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Agriculture Minister, comprising of relevant agencies like DARE, DPIIT, Agricultural Incubators and Knowledge Partners, Agricultural Universities, Research Institutes, Top Investors and other stakeholders . A separate division under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary for Agri Startups in the Ministry of Agriculture will also be created.
A cell will also be created to act as a single window agency for Agri Startups to facilitate all necessary linkages with certification agencies, financial institutions, agricultural universities etc. Shri Tomar informed that marketing linkages with organizations like e-NAM and NAFED will be created meet market needs with products developed by Agri Startups. A portal will also be developed to create a database for all agricultural startups and track their progress. Shri Tomar said that efforts will be made to organize Agri Startup Conclave at national and regional level to promote startups in agriculture sector.
Shri Tomar said that in the last eight years it has been the constant endeavor of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make India strong in the global political arena. if the power of farmers, youth, startups etc. in our country is harnessed in a planned way with goals in mind, the day is not far when India will stand on the political platform of the world to lead everyone. Whenever Prime Minister Shri Modi went abroad, apart from meetings he encouraged NRIs by working with them. We are proud of our brothers and sisters who have the ability to feed the world.
Shri Modi called for an independent India and a voice for the locals; in such a situation, those who once flaunted branded foreign pens in their shirt pockets now feel proud to carry bamboo wood pens made by self-help groups. Earlier it was a race to go abroad and get a job, but today many of our young colleagues are proud to start a business or make a living in India itself, leaving lucrative jobs abroad. These changes are a good sign.
Eight years ago, there were only 80-100 agricultural startups, while after he became the Prime Minister, due to Shri Modi’s persistent efforts, today they are more than 2,000, out of which hundreds of them have been given training and financial assistance. under the regime of the Ministry of Agriculture. The central government aims to increase this number to 10,000.
The Union Minister said that the government is committed to developing the technology. The government wants our startups to be useful to the country and the world by solving existing challenges. In this direction, the Ministry of Agriculture along with the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and other institutions including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are working with maximum commitment. Shri Tomar said that it is necessary to popularize the technology, only then people will get its real benefit, just as technology should be available to the common man. Startups should operate by deciding their focus and industry so that farmers can fully benefit from their produce.
Given the growing population of the country and the world, efforts should also be made to ensure food security, especially considering the challenges of climate change. Startups should innovate with vision and determination. Following the Prime Minister’s call, we must be successful in transforming India into a developed country by the centenary year of our independence. Shri Tomar said that the Government of India stood side by side and went step by step with the startups towards this goal.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Shri Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje were also present on the occasion. Agriculture Minister Shri Manoj Ahuja and Director General ICAR Dr. also addressed the conclave. Himanshu Pathak. Initially, representatives of hundreds of startups from all over the country presented their key proposals to the ministers. Earlier, Union Minister Shri Tomar along with both the Foreign Ministers visited various stalls and inquired about the startups.
Read Now :UN chief asked India for support in mobilizing G20 nations to help debt-ridden developing nations
