Question : Agri Entrepreneurial Cell

(a) whether the Government proposes to set up an Agri Entrepreneurial Cell to encourage agri start-ups and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has identified the key areas for innovative work related to agri start-ups to be taken up and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has also decided to reserve 20 per cent of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Fund to set up incubator facilities and to promote entrepreneurs and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has set up any monitoring mechanism to ensure proper utilization of the said funds and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes a policy to nurture agri-startups in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to connect Farmers Producers Organization through technology?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (e): This Ministry has launched a new programme called “Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development” under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with objective to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem with 8% of annual outlay of the scheme.

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These innovations may include technological solutions/ processes / products/ services/ business platforms etc. that could enhance productivity or increase efficiency in agriculture and allied activities.

In this regard, five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty four Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) to encourage and strengthen agri start-ups through this programme. List of designated KPs and R-ABIs is enclosed (Annexure).

To monitor this programme, KPs and RABIs will submit consolidated annual progress report along with audited accounts to the nodal division of this Ministry. They will upload physical and financial progress status on their website on a regular basis.

(f): Government is implementing National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme wherein online trading of agriculture and horticulture commodities is done for transparent price discovery for farmers for their produce through competitive online bidding system. So far, 838 Farmers Producers Organization (FPOs) have been onboarded on e-NAM Platform.