Lok Sabha Question No. 389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Startups in Agricultural Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 389

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## STARTUPS IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

389 Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  new/innovative  technologies  developed  by  startups  in  the  agriculture  sector contribute in making agriculture sustainable and climate friendly;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  linking  agriculture  start  up  technology  with  farmers  through  extension  is important from the point of view of access and adoption thereof;
- (c) if so, the response of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government has launched a pilot project called VISTAAR to strengthen/reinforce agriculture extension system and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the number of startups connected to the agriculture and farming sectors existing in the country, State-wise especially in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (c) 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme under Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  promotes  innovation  and  agri-entrepreneurship,  by providing financial and technical support for nurturing startups. 5 Knowledge Partners (KPs) and 24 RKVY  Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) provide training &  incubate startups for implementation of this programme.

The  new  and  innovative  technologies  developed  by  startups  contribute  to  making agriculture  sustainable  and  climate-friendly.  Startups  working  in  agriculture  sector  such  as precision agriculture, agri-biotechnology, farm mechanization, waste-to-wealth solutions, etc are helping to control the overuse of pesticides, fertilisers, and irrigation. These solutions enhance resource  efficiency,  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  and  promote  climate-resilient  farming through precision irrigation, organic inputs and renewable energy adoption. Notable innovations include  bio-filter-based  wastewater  treatment,  vegan  leather  from  banana  stems,  and  digital platforms for carbon sequestration and trading, etc.

Linking agriculture startup technology with farmers through extension services is crucial for ensuring wider access and adoption of innovative solutions. Agricultural extension services play a key role in bridging this gap by providing on-ground demonstrations, training programs, digital  advisory  platforms,  and  farmer  meet-ups.  Extensions  through  incubators,  startups engaged with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), FPOs, and rural networks to promote technology and capacity building. Strengthening this linkage accelerates adoption of innovations, improves farmers' income, and supports climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

(d) VISTAAR  (Virtually  Integrated  System  To  Access  Agricultural  Resources)  aims  to develop a unified digital ecosystem for agriculture by integrating reliable, validated and up-todate resources across platforms. It focuses on enhancing scalability, accessibility and inclusivity of digital solutions while enabling two-way communication to incorporate farmer feedback. By driving  center-state  convergence,  fostering  partnerships  with  stakeholders  and  aligning  with broader efforts of ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities.

(e) Under  the  'Innovation  and  Agri-Entrepreneurship  Development'  programme  of  PMRKVY during 2019-20 to 2024-25,   financial assistance of Rs. 124.96 crore has been released to 1749  agri  startups  through  various  KPs  and  R-ABIs.  The  state  -wise  details  of  number  of startups  including  in  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Maharashtra  connected  to  the  agriculture  sectors under the programme is at Annexure. Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh has 1 startup.

The  details  of  State/UT-wise  agriculture  start-ups  in  the  country  including  in  Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra supported during 2019-20 to 2024-25 by KPs and R-ABIs under the 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' of PM- RKVY is as under:

| Sl. No.   | States             |   Total number of startups |
|-----------|--------------------|----------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh     |                         62 |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh  |                         13 |
| 3         | Assam              |                         50 |
| 4         | Bihar              |                         49 |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh       |                         80 |
| 6         | Goa                |                          3 |
| 7         | Gujarat            |                         49 |
| 8         | Haryana            |                         87 |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh   |                         34 |
| 10        | Jammu &Kashmir     |                         24 |
| 11        | Jharkhand          |                          7 |
| 12        | Karnataka          |                        211 |
| 13        | Kerala             |                         99 |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh     |                         69 |
| 15        | Maharashtra        |                        231 |
| 16        | Manipur            |                         22 |
| 17        | Meghalaya          |                          2 |
| 18        | Mizoram            |                         25 |
| 19        | Nagaland           |                          2 |
| 20        | Odisha             |                         62 |
| 21        | Punjab             |                         52 |
| 22        | Rajasthan          |                         71 |
| 23        | Tamil Nadu         |                        143 |
| 24        | Telangana          |                         99 |
| 25        | Tripura            |                         13 |
| 26        | Uttar Pradesh      |                         88 |
| 27        | Uttarakhand        |                         33 |
| 28        | West Bengal        |                         22 |
| 29        | Delhi NCR          |                         42 |
| 30        | Andman and Nicobar |                          1 |
| 31        | Chandigarh         |                          3 |
| 32        | Pondicherry        |                          1 |
| Total     | Total              |                       1749 |