About

A leader in the field of Agricultural Education, the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD) is among India's most respected names in Agricultural Education, Research and Extension. An ICAR accredited (grade A) University, UAS, Dharwad offers quality Under Graduate, Post Graduate and Diploma programs with constantly updated syllabi to meet the ever expanding needs of the various stake holders. The University has 5 Colleges, 30 Research Stations, 6 Extension Education Units, 6 Krishi Vigyan Kendra and an ATIC.

            The University has jurisdiction over 7 districts of North Karnataka accounting for 28% of geographical area, 27% of total cultivated area and 14% of the irrigated area in the state. Great diversity in soil types, climate, topography and farming situations ranging from dry-farming, heavy rainfall and irrigated areas provides for diverse research opportunities. Important crops of the region include sorghum, cotton, rice, pulses, chilli, sugarcane, groundnut, sunflower, wheat, safflower etc., apart from an array of horticultural crops.

Introduction

            The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is an important scheme of the Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), aimed at strengthening infrastructure in agriculture and allied areas In order to promote Agri-preneurship and Agribusiness by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem, a new component under the revamped scheme RKVY-RAFTAAR has been launched in 2018-19.

            RKVY-RAFTAAR supports agribusiness incubation by tapping innovations and technologies for venture creation in agriculture. In this process, incubation facilities and expertise already available with participating academic, technical, management and R&D institutions in the country shall be utilized on an individual or collective basis to harness synergies. The existing institutional agribusiness incubators would be strengthened on a need basis by providing grants-in-aid. 

Background: 

            “Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAAR)” a component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for innovation and agri-entrepreneurship development was launched in 2017-18.  An initiative of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, the scheme is structured to promote innovation and entrepreneurship through establishment of new RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) and strengthening existing agribusiness incubators with infrastructure, equipment and manpower. These R-ABIs will in turn invite applications from Agripreneurs in different stages of the business life cycle (ideation/expansion) and provide them an opportunity to generate innovations in agriculture and allied sector. 

 KRISHIK - Agri-Business Incubator 

Focusing on youth to drive the future ready agriculture innovation ecosystems

            Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of the economy with more than 70 percent of the rural population and 50% of total work force dependent on it for livelihood. While agri startups in India have made a head way, the Agri-startup boom is yet to proliferate in the Northern Karnataka. The area is blessed with the bounty of nature and the region is largely rural, with myriad agricultural and allied production dominating the agri landscape. Despite several development schemes being launched by the government, largely focusing on the farm and rural sector in the area, there remains a gap. 

Some of the positive implications AgriTech-Startups include

1. Encouraging more buying and selling within the rural boundary.

2. Contractual buying and contractual farming within the aegis of the boundary.

3. Assured market for farm products which will in turn encourage local rural economy.

5. Concurrent migration of people from rural to urban areas.

6. Provide boost to the local village economy by eradicating the problem of uncertainty in farmers as well as the rural economy.

The key components of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell under RKVY-RAFTAAR:

   Objectives of RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABI)

a.   To achieve ''Lab to land'' by dissemination of new technology /varieties to farmers through promoting a culture of Agri startups

b.   To promote innovation, entrepreneurship and business creation in agriculture and allied sector by skill development, capacity building and technology scale up; 

c.   To create employment opportunities for youth in agriculture in the rural vicinity;

d.   To promote an integrated approach for technology acquisition, R&D, commercial technology transfer and knowledge dissemination; 

e.   To facilitate evolution of an Agri-startup ecosystem by support for cost effective, value added services including technical, legal, financial, intellectual property and regulatory compliance related services to Agripreneurs; 

f.    To build a vibrant Agri-startup ecosystem, by establishing a network between academia, financial institutions, industries and other related institutions; 

g.   Capacity building of existing Agri-business incubators as R-ABIs to achieve related objectives;

 h. To generate/provide innovative solution to meet local and global agriculture and business challenges, and competitiveness.

 Operating structure Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell under RKVY-RAFTAAR:

            As a first step, a R-ABI (existing/new) will strengthen itself with need-based infrastructure, equipment and man power support to implement different components. Thereafter, the R-ABI will execute and monitor various activities covered under these components.

1.    Funding support will be provided to operate the R-ABI programme 

2.    Selected RKVY-RAFTAAR Agripreneurs that have technology/ service/ business platform-based ideas will be provided a stipend for two months (Rs. 10,000/moth) for training cum internship with R-ABIs.

3.    Selected RKVY-RAFTAAR interns after successful completion of training cum internship will be provided idea/pre-seed stage seed money as 90 percent grant up to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs through R-ABIs to convert their idea/proof of concept into prototype/ product.

4.    Selected RKVY-RAFTAAR incubatees will be provided incubation and seed stage money as 85 percent grant up to a maximum of Rs. 25 lakhs through R-ABIs for product development/improvement, administrative and market research in the early stages of a start-up.

Focus Areas: 

Organic Farming

Precision Farming

Agricultural Supply Chain

Agricultural Biotechnology

Post Harvest & Food Technology

Food Processing

IoT, ICT and AI in Agriculture

Natural Resource Management

Animal Husbandry, Dairying

Agri-Input tools and technologies

Farm Mechanisation

Agriculture Engineering

Agri Ext Education

Waste to Wealth, Secondary Agriculture

Agri Clinics & Farm Health services

Others (Please Specify)

Contact:

Dr. S. S. Dolli

Principal Investigator & CEO

KRISHIK – Agri Business Incubator

University of Agricultural Sciences,

Dharwad -580005 (Karnataka)

Phone: 0836-2214392, email: rabi@uasd.in