The shift from Agriculture to Agribusiness can revitalize this sector for socio-economic development of India, says agri-expert

Chandigarh, August 17, 2022: Chandigarh Management Association (CMA) organized an online lecture on Opportunities and Issues for Agriculture-based Startups under its Better Management Series here today.

Dinesh Kumar Kapila, retired Chief General Manager and State Head HP from NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) said that the way forward to revitalize Indian agriculture and make it profitable lies in agri-business, he said.

Agri-preneurship has the potential for employment generation, income generation, poverty alleviation, and better food security for our country, Dinesh Kumar Kapila informed. 

He expressed the need for more startups to enter this highly unexplored yet profitable field where innovation in required in improving processes, productivity and efficiency, by startups investing their time and energies in understanding the region-specific needs of the farmers, and reducing dependence upon water scarcity and climate change, he remarked.

A life member of CMA, Dinesh Kumar Kapila, is passionate about promoting agribusiness startups and is a mentor to two Agribusiness Incubation Centres, and an Executive Committee member of the Institute for the Blind, touched upon the evolution of a robust ecosystem to promote innovation, including the formation of Agrinnovate India Ltd, promoted by the Government of India’s Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture, to act as an effective interface between ICAR and Agricultural stakeholders, that is enabling innovation in the field.

There is no dearth of finances with many private players now entering the field and even Start Up India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has created the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) with an outlay of Rs. 945.00 CR, which aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry, and commercialization.

Abhishek Gupta, General Secretary, CMA invited any startup to contact CMA for free mentorship and training in business plan preparations, and investors connect, to help them set up their enterprise in any area.

The meeting was attended by past presidents and members of CMA, startups, management professionals, and corporate trainers, Abhishek informed.