ICAR-CCARI ABI (AGNI) conducted two days ‘IGNITE’ Young Agri-Entrepreneur’s conclave 2024 at Goa

 

 AGNI-Agri-business incubation centre of ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI) Goa organized two days ‘IGNITE’ Young Agri-entrepreneurs Conclave 2024 during 8-9 February 2024. This Young Agri-entrepreneurs’ conclave was conceptualized to identify the best agri start-up ideas from the ignited young minds (below 35 years of age) to further nurture them through incubation support from AGNI. A total of 15 young entrepreneurs and students from 5 states (Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu) registered for this program. The ideas presented were from varied domains like cosmetics from fish waste, Artificial intelligence in Animal husbandry, Vegan Meat, Sericulture, and Organic farming.   

The conclave was inaugurated by Dr. Anil Wali, CEO, BITS BioCytiH Foundation, Goa. During his inaugural address, he motivated young minds to take up entrepreneurial ventures in the untapped agriculture landscape for the sustainable development of our country. A keynote address was delivered by Prof. S. Ramkumar, Founder Director (Entrepreneurship), KVASU and Former Dean, RIVER, Puducherry on ‘HARVEST INNOVATIONS-seed ideas’ during the inaugural session.

The start-up ideas were critically evaluated by esteemed panellists from academia and Industry Dr. K. P.Sudheer, Head, RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubator, Kerala Agriculture University, Shri Tarun Krishnakumar, General Manager – BITS, Goa Innovation Incubation Entrepreneurship Society and Shri Kiraan Mehta, Head, Incubation & Innovation, FiiRE, Fatorda, Madgaon.  The best five startup ideas were awarded the AGNI trophy with six months of incubation (one month residential & 5 months non-residential) & waiver for the incubation fee at AGNI.

During the conclave, Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa assured that ABI- AGNI will make all the best efforts to transform the winning  ideas into industries with the larger goal of retaining youth in agriculture through entrepreneurship. The conclave was coordinated by Dr. Mathala Juliet Gupta, Principal Scientist & PI and Dr. R. Solomon Rajkumar, Senior Scientist & Co-PI of AGNI, Dr. Shripad Bhat, Senior Scientist & Co-PI AGNI and Shri Vinod Ubarhande, ACTO, ICAR- CCARI, Goa.