Lok Sabha Question No. 1354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Start-up Ecosystem in the Agricultural Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1354

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  JULY, 2024

## START-UP ECOSYSTEM IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

1354   SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

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

(a) the details of the measures taken by the Government to cultivate a vibrant Startup ecosystem within the agriculture and allied industries; and

(b) the details of the financial support offered to various start-ups operating in the agricultural sector during the last five years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare is implementing 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19, with the objective of promoting innovation and agrientrepreneurship, by providing financial and technical support for nurturing startups. 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, 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 in the market and to facilitate them in scaling up.

Start-ups are trained and incubated by the 5 KPs and 24 R-ABIs appointed under the  programme.  Government  of  India  organizes  various  national  level  programmes including  agri-startup  conclave,  agri  fair  and  exhibitions,  webinars  &  workshops  to provide  a  platform  for  the  promotion  of  agri  startups  by  linking  them  with  various stakeholders.

- (b)  Financial  assistance  of  Rs.  122.50  crore have  been  released in  installments  to  a total  of  1708 agri  startups  through  various KPs and R-ABIs from  2019-20 to 2023-24 under the 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme. The year wise details of financial support provided to startups is as under:

| 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  |

****