Lok Sabha Question No. 2485 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Startup Ecosystem in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2485

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## STARTUP ECOSYSTEM IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

2485.  DR. D. PURANDESWARI:

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

(a) the details of efforts made by the Government to cultivate a vibrant startup ecosystem within the agriculture and allied industries; (b) the details of the financial support offered to various startups operating in this sector during the last five years; (c) the measures initiated by the Government to support farmers in the adoption of digital technology and innovative farming techniques; (d) whether the Government has conducted research on technologies that have practical applications for farmers and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the details of the Government schemes or policies in place to offer technological and scientific aid to farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a): Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare is implementing 'Innovation and AgriEntrepreneurship Development' programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19, to promote 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. Under the programme, financial support upto Rs. 5 lakh is provided at the idea/pre seed stage and upto Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage to entrepreneurs/ startups in agriculture & allied sector to launch their products, services, business platforms, etc and to facilitate in scaling up.

Besides, Government of India has launched AgriSURE scheme on 3 rd  September, 2024 to support start-ups for agriculture & rural enterprise through NABVENTURES Ltd., a wholly owned  subsidiary  of  National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development

(NABARD). This initiative  is  a  Category  II  SEBI  registered  Alternative  Investment  Fund, which  will  promote  investments  in  innovative,  technology  driven,  high-risk,  high-impact activities in agriculture and allied areas. The total corpus of the Fund is Rs. 750 crore (Rs. 250 crore each contributed by Government of India and NABARD) and remaining Rs. 250 crore to be mobilized from Banks, Financial Institution, and other private entities.

National  Agriculture  Innovation  Fund,  a  part  of  non-scheme  of  ICAR  promotes vibrant  startup  ecosystem  in  agriculture  and  its  allied  field,  through  its  50  Agri-Business Incubation Centres (ABICs) in ICAR network institutes. These ABICs provide technology and skill upgradation, leading to promotion of viable enterprises and sustainable startups business operations to  entrepreneurs/startups.  No  financial  support  is  provided  to  these startups, only technical support is offered.

- (b): Financial assistance of Rs. 122.50 crore have been released to 1708 agri startups through various KPs and R-ABIs from 2019-20 to 2023-24 under the 'Innovation and AgriEntrepreneurship Development' programme as under:
- (c): The  Government  of  India  has  undertaken  various  initiatives  to  provide  access  to technology  through  various  digital  initiatives,  such  as  AgriStack,  Farmer  Registry,  Crop Sown Registry, Krishi Mapper application, Kisan-eMitra etc. Agri-startups are encouraged to work with farmers by creating drive in the farmers' community for the adoption of their innovative techniques/products.
- (d) & (e): Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  different  states  support  farmers  in  the adoption  of  innovative  farming  techniques  developed  by  National  Agricultural  Research Systems.  The  activities  include  on-farm  testing  to  identify  the  location  specificity  of technology  under  various  farming  systems;  frontline  demonstration  to  establish  the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmer's fields; capacity development of farmers for knowledge and production of quality seeds, planting materials and other technology inputs. In order to develop awareness about agricultural innovations and technologies, a large number of extension activities are taken up by the KVKs, that offer technological & scientific support to farmers.

| Financial Year   |   Total number of startups supported |   Total fund released to startups (in installments) Rs. in crore |
|------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20          |                                   58 |                                                             3.13 |
| 2020-21          |                                  588 |                                                            27.43 |
| 2021-22          |                                  277 |                                                            20.34 |
| 2022-23          |                                  253 |                                                            24.35 |
| 2023-24          |                                  532 |                                                            47.25 |
| Total            |                                 1708 |                                                           122.5  |

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