Lok Sabha Question No. 38 (STARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Agritech Startups
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *38

ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## AGRITECH STARTUPS

## *38. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage agritech startups which can play a major role and change the food industry in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  any  new  technological  innovations  and  initiatives  are  being  taken  by  the Government to reform and transform the food industry; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION NO. *38 FOR ANSWER  ON  04 TH FEBRUARY, 2020 REGARDING 'AGRITECH STARTUPS'

(a) & (b): The Government of India through the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched a new component, 'Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development' under the scheme Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojna  (RKVY)-  Remunerative  Approaches  for  Agriculture  and  Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19. It promotes agristartups with 8% of the total annual outlay made for RKVY-RAFTAAR. The 'Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development' supports agribusiness incubation by tapping innovations and technologies for venture creation in agriculture through incubation  facilities and  expertise  already available with  participating academic,  technical,  management  and  R&D  institutions  in  the  country.  The  new  and  existing institutional  agribusiness  incubators  are  strengthened  on  a  need  basis  by  providing  financial assistance as grants-in-aid.

Department of Science & Technology (DST) under its Seed Support Fund Scheme provides assistance for establishment of Technology Business Incubators (TBI) that nurture innovative and knowledge based start-ups. They are based on innovative applications and state-of-the-art tools leveraging Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Cloud, Mobility, Data Analytics, design innovations etc.

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog is supporting the establishment of new and existing incubation centres that includes support for agritech and as well as food tech startups.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  promotes  new  technological innovations in the food processing sector under its scheme of Research & Development. Various Universities,  IITs,  Central/  State  Government  Institutions,  Government  funded  Organizations, R&D laboratories and CSIR recognized R&D units in private sector have financially assisted to the tune of Rs.51 crores to undertake R&D work in the field of food processing sector for product &  process  development,  design  and  development  of  equipment,  improved  storage,  shelf-life, packaging  etc.  The  two  food  technology  institutes  under  MoFPI  viz;  Indian  Institute  of  Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) and National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) have also developed new products and technologies like millet based products, edible plate out of jackfruit waste, post-harvest onion processing machines (small onion), radio frequency (RF) steriliser and bio-degradable food packaging material using agro waste.

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