PAU Startups showcase innovations at FPO Mela in Sangrur
Five startups, trained by Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), participated in the three-day FPO Exhibition and Mela, organized by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), at Sangrur, Punjab. Showcasing the innovations and products of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and startups, the event became a significant platform for fostering collaborations, enhancing brand visibility, and enabling market linkages for FPO products.
Ludhiana, August 20, 2024: Five startups, trained by Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), participated in the three-day FPO Exhibition and Mela, organized by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), at Sangrur, Punjab. Showcasing the innovations and products of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and startups, the event became a significant platform for fostering collaborations, enhancing brand visibility, and enabling market linkages for FPO products.
Five notable startups from PABI, namely Cogneesol Agtech Pvt Limited (Apni Kheti), Shaan Agriculture Industry, Master Brain Agro Ind. Pvt Ltd, Greenaffair Sustainable Structures Pvt Ltd, and B-Treat Natural Products Pvt Ltd, participated in this event. These startups brought forth an array of products, ranging from honey, bee pollen, and turmeric powder to sustainable structures and innovative agricultural solutions.
The FPO Mela aimed to facilitate synergistic convergence between startups and FPOs, focusing on effective production systems, processing, value addition, and market linkages. A key feature of the event was the onboarding of FPOs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform; it is expected to revolutionize e-commerce access for these organizations.
Dr TS Riar, Principal Investigator at PABI, said, “The participation of our PABI startups not only highlights the innovations happening in Punjab but also strengthens the ecosystem for agricultural entrepreneurship in the state."
Dr Poonam Sachdev, Co-Principal Investigator at PABI, said that the FPO mela in Sangrur was a significant opportunity for our startups to showcase their products and establish valuable market connections. The integration with ONDC will further enhance their reach, ensuring that their products can find markets across India."