Lok Sabha Question No. 3486 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Screening Committee for Leveraging Agri-Tech Sector Benefits to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3486

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## SCREENING COMMITTEE FOR LEVERAGING AGRI-TECH SECTOR BENEFITS TO FARMERS

3486. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

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

- (a) whether a screening Committee has been constituted by the Government to ensure that the rapid growth in the agri-tech sector is properly leveraged for the benefit of farmers of the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): The Government acknowledges the significant potential of the Agri-Tech industry in driving the transformation of food systems and enhancing the efficiency and  profitability  of  small  farms.  Further,  various  initiatives  and  policies  have  been introduced to promote technological advancements in agriculture, recognizing the role of Agri-Tech in addressing challenges and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

A component called 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' has been launched under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with  the  objective  of  promoting  innovation  and  agri-entrepreneurship  by  providing financial  support  and  nurturing  the  incubation  ecosystem.  Under  this  programme, start-ups are encouraged to use innovative technologies to resolve challenges faced in agriculture and allied sectors. A total of 1176 start-ups have been selected in various areas of agriculture and allied sectors under this programme for providing financial support through Knowledge Partners and Agri Business Incubators appointed by the Department for implementation of this programme.

The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been supporting Agribased startups under the project called National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF) initiated  in  year  2016-2017.  It  has  two  components  viz.  (I)  Innovation  Fund;  (II) Incubation Fund and National Coordinating Unit (NCU):

- I. Component I: 10 Zonal Technology Management Units and 89 Institute Technology  Management  Units  (ITMUs)  established in  99  ICAR institutes provide a single-window mechanism to manage innovations, showcase intellectual assets, and pursue matters related to intellectual property (IP) management and transfer/commercialization of technologies in these institutes.
- II. Component II: Agri-business Incubator Centres (ABICs) are set up to speed up the  delivery  of  the  new  technologies  to  stake  holders.  The ABICs  are  the  nodal  point  to  provide  the  desired  link  for  Agriculture Research & Development (R&D) Institutions for incubation/ commercialization  of  the  validated  technologies.  So  far,  50  AgriBusiness Incubation Centers have been established and are operational in the ICAR network under the NAIF scheme.

Further, the Government has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission, which envisage the creations of Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture such as Agristack, Krishi Decision Support System, Comprehensive Soil Fertility & Profile Map and other IT initiatives. Agristack project is one of the major components of this Mission, which consists of three foundational registries or databases in the agriculture sector, i.e., the Farmers' Registry, Geo-referenced village maps and the Crop Sown Registry. This system  aims  to  enhance  interoperability  and  convergence  of  efforts,  fostering  the development  of applications in the agricultural sector using emerging  digital technologies.

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