“Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Incubation” organized by ABI Centre, ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa

“Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Incubation” organized by ABI Centre, ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa

    Agri-based Growth opportunities for Nurturing start-ups through Incubation (AGNI), the ABI Centre of ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute organized “Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Incubation” for aspiring entrepreneurs on 10-11-2021.

    Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa & Chairman, Advisory Committee, AGNI, highlighted the technologies available at the Institute and motivated the aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of incubation facilities at the Institute. He underlined that the Incubation Centre at the Institute would extend all possible support to entrepreneurs in setting up agri-business ventures.

    Dr. Vithal. S. Sukhathankar, Associate Professor (Systems), Goa Institute of Management and  Mentor of AGNI, stressed the resilience of the agriculture sector, which performed well even during the COVID-19 pandemic and spoke about the opportunities available in the agriculture sector for entrepreneurs.

    Dr. Lalat Indu Giri, Assistant Professor (ECE)  & Co-ordinator, Startup Centre, NIT, Goa, and Mentor of AGNI, deliberated upon the scope for innovative solutions in the agriculture sector such as use of drones, mechanization and agricultural waste management and urged the participants to explore these opportunities.

    Dr. K.P. Sudheer, Associate Director of Research, RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubator, Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Horticulture, KAU, Thrissur, Kerala,  Mentor of AGNI, and the invited speaker for the workshop, explained about agri-business incubation with a special emphasis on the food business ecosystem. He spoke about the scope of value addition for the entrepreneurs and farmers in the food business sector through which they can tap into new markets and reap the benefits.

    Dr. Mathala Juliet Gupta, P.I., AGNI, ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa, briefed about the facilities and services offered by AGNI, the ABI centre of the Institute and encouraged the entrepreneurs to set up successful agri-business enterprises.

    Dr. R.S. Rajkumar, Co-P.I., AGNI, Scientist (LPT) & Section Incharge, Animal Science & Fishery Section, highlighted the Entrepreneurship Opportunities in AgroEcotourim and motivated the entrepreneurs to set up business ventures in the field of AgroEcotourim.

    Dr. Shripad Bhat, Co-P.I., AGNI, Scientist (Economics), ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa, spoke about the technologies available at the Institute for farmers and prospective entrepreneurs, including those technologies which have already been commercialized and the procedure followed by the Institute in commercializing these technologies.

     Dr. Maneesha S.R, Scientist (Fruit Science), compered the programme. About 40 participants, including registered incubatees, prospective entrepreneurs, farmers, students, participated in this workshop.