(a) whether it is a fact that in an attempt to achieve the goal of zero hunger by 2030, the Government has decided to rope in start-ups to act as a conduit between farmers and buyers to promote millet farming in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that the Government has set up 25 agri incubation centres and 50 more will be established to provide training to entrepreneurs; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The United Nations member-states have committed the Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger specifically aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030. Therefore, India as a member nation has committed to achieve this goal. Promoting farming of food grains like millets can help to achieve internationally agreed target.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research is working on Nutricereals improvement, value addition, value chains and entrepreneurship development. Accordingly, Agri-incubation center established by DARE/ICAR at ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research has incubated 13 start-ups who are working on technologies to promote the millets as health foods. Value added products of millets have also been developed and 50 entrepreneurs through technology licensing have also been developed who are manufacturing and selling these products in various regional clusters across India.
(c) Yes, Madam. 25 agri-incubation centers have been established by ICAR/DARE under the National Agriculture Innovation Fund Scheme. It is proposed to expand the scope of the Scheme to establish 25 more agri-incubation centers in ICAR institutes, taking the total to fifty.
(d) The list of 25 agri-incubation centers established by ICAR/DARE under the National Agriculture Innovation Fund Scheme is attached at Annexure.
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