Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial and technical support for nurturing startups ecosystem in the country. 5 Knowledge Partners (KPs) and 24 RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed for incubation of startups and implementation of this programme.

Start-ups are trained and incubated by these Knowledge Partners (KPs) and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) appointed under the programme. Government of India organize 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, etc.

Agri-start-ups supported under the programme are at various stages of implementation from ‘idea’ to ‘scaling’ and ‘growth stage’. These agri-startups are working in different areas of agriculture & allied sectors, such as, precision agriculture, farm mechanization, agri logistics & supply chain, agro-processing & food technology, waste to wealth, organic farming, animal husbandry, dairy & fisheries, etc. The emerging technologies developed by agri- startups are providing various affordable and innovative solutions in agriculture and allied sectors.

Under the programme, the financial support of Rs. 106.25 crores has been provided to a total of 1524 agri startups from 2019-20 to 2023-24.The year wise details are as under:

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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