Lok Sabha Question No. 1449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Startup for Millets
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1449

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th  DECEMBER, 2023

## STARTUP FOR MILLETS

1449.  SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is aware that we need startups to promote a localized but diversified consumption of millets across the country; and
- (b) if so, the details of the steps that are proposed to be taken by the Government to fund startups to promote millet consumption

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री ( SHRI ARJUN MUNDA )

- (a) The Government of India is committed to promote Agri-startups in the country. Millet-based startups are contributing to the diversification of the food industry  due to their  nutritional  value  and  resilience  in  diverse  climate.  Startups  focusing  on  milletbased products are emerging as key players in the food sector. Startups are leveraging nutritional benefits of millets to create a diverse range of millet based products such as millet-based snacks, cereals, beverages, millet flour, etc for diversified consumption of millets  across  the  country.    The  startups  also  help  local  farmers  by  promoting  the cultivation of millets.
- (b) Governments of India provides financial and technical support to promote agristartups in agriculture and allied sectors including millet based start-ups. Department of Agriculture  &  Farmers'  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  implementing  'Innovation  and  AgriEntrepreneurship  Development'  programme  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana

(RKVY) from 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agrientrepreneurship  by  providing  financial  and  technical  support  for  nurturing  startups ecosystem  in  the  country.  So  far,  5  Knowledge  Partners  (KPs)  and  24  RKVY Agribusiness  Incubators  (R-ABIs)  have  been  appointed  for  training  &  incubation  of startups and implementation of this programme.

Under  the  programme,  the  financial  support  upto  Rs.  5.00  lakh  is  provided  at  the idea/pre seed stage and upto Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage to entrepreneurs/ startups in  the  field  of  agriculture  &  allied  sector  to  launch  their  products,  services,  business platforms,  etc  into  the  market  and  facilitate  them  to  scale  up  their  products  and operations.

ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Millets  Research  (IIMR),  Hyderabad  is  one  of  the  RKVYAgribusiness Incubator (RABI) appointed under the Innovation and Agrientrepreneurship  programme  of  RKVY,  which  is  a  domain  specific  startup  incubator primarily  working  in  supporting  the  millet  value  chain.  It  has  a  dedicated  Center  of Excellence (CoE) for R&D in Millets, trainings and mentoring programs for entrepreneurs  and  startups  to  help  them  scale  up  their  ventures.  So  far,  135  millet based  startups  have  been  supported  with  grant-in-aid  of  Rs.  10.50  crore  by  IIMR, Hyderabad (R-ABI).

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