Lok Sabha Question No. 265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Agri-Startups
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Keshari Devi Patel, Kanakmal Katara, Ranjeeta Koli, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Balak Nath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 265

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  NOVEMBER, 2021

## AGRI-STARTUPS

† 265. SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL: SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA: SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI: SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE: SHRI BALAK NATH:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष  एवं  कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government propose to provide funds for start-ups in agriculture and its related sectors in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the status of agriculture startup in the country till date;

(c) the ways and means by which Government will promote agriculture start-ups in rural and tribal areas of Gujarat so that farmers of those areas be uplifted;

(d) the number of agro startups set-up during the last two years along with the details of  the  financial  assistance  provided  to  them  in  Uttar  Pradesh  including  district Prayagraj and in Rajasthan including district Band-Durgapur;

(e) the details of the relaxation given to set up agro start-ups in rural areas;

(f)  the  details  of  the  schemes  formulated  by  the  Government  keeping  in  view  the demand of agro/products in international market; and

(g) the details of the assistance provided by the Government to promote innovation in products and service of agro start-ups?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  &  (b)  This  Ministry  has  launched  a  component  called  'Innovation  and  AgriEntrepreneurship  Development' under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas  Yojana  (RKVYRAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with objective to promote innovation and agrientrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. This Ministry has appointed five Knowledge Partners (KPs) as Centre of Excellence and twenty four RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country for implementation of this programme.
- (c)  Anand  Agricultural  University,  Anand,  Gujarat  is  one  of  the  R-ABIs  under 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' to promote agriculture startups in Gujarat.
- (d)    Number  of  startups  selected  during  the  last  two  years  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and Rajasthan  and  financial  assistance  provided  to  them  under  'Innovation  and  AgriEntrepreneurship Development' programme is given below.

( amount in Rs. lakh )

| State/Year    | Number of agro-startups selected   | Number of agro-startups selected   | Financial assistance given   | Financial assistance given   |
|---------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|               | 2019-20                            | 2020-21                            | 2019-20                      | 2020-21                      |
| Uttar Pradesh | 13                                 | 19                                 | 69.00                        | 85.80                        |
| Rajasthan     | 3                                  | 18                                 | 18.00                        | 97.00                        |

- (e) 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development'  programme of this Ministry is  basically  meant  for  promotion  of    agri-startups.  Various  provisions  regarding startups are governed by norms laid down by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- (f)  Start-ups of agriculture and allied sectors in areas such as agricultural logistics, value  &  supply  chain  management,  online/virtual  platform,  organic  farming  & services etc. are supported under 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme of this Ministry.
- (g)  646  start-ups  in  the  agriculture  and  allied  sectors  have  been  selected  under 'Innovation  and  Agri-Entrepreneurship  Development'  for  funding  of  a  sum  of  Rs. 69.92 crore in installments and Rs. 33.94 crore has been released to respective KPs and RABIs for funding these start-ups.

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