Though agribusiness incubators are important to promote entrepreneurship and commercialization of new technologies in agriculture, the incubators are yet to receive sufficient attention and funding in India. Lack of a positive ecosystem to nurture start-ups affects the functioning of agribusiness incubators, argues K Srinivas.
Dr K. Srinivas is Principal Scientist, Research Systems Management Division, and CEO: a-IDEA, ICAR- NAARM (India). Email: ksrinivas@naarm.ernet.in
Article has captured statistics and data which is not that convincing especially the 12 start up ideas presented of which two are highlighted – one on quinoa is a pure trading model by group of investors. The Agribusiness Incubation ecosystem today is led by public institutions, that is he area of concern which is only over projecting minuscule activities. All the existing Incubators should open up their functionality interns of profitability and privatise. I agree to the capacity building program on start up incubation but that will again fall into another scheme leverage for public institutions to achieve targets in terms of trainings completed. We need acceleration programs today that are imparted with stakeholders and peers. I hope more local institutions led by regional stakeholders emerge in running Incubators and Accelerators
I noticed in Dr Srinivas a great passion for working with Startups during Krishi Unnati Mela@ New Delhi,19-21 March, 2016 where NAARM had a big stall to display the Agri-ventures promoted by it
Thanks to Prof. Srinivas for giving a bird’s eye view on ABIs. These ABIs need support from the Government especially when viewed in the context of poor returns on investment in agriculture compared to other sectors. The initiative taken up by NAARM a –IDEA in promoting innovation in agriculture is laudable. This is entirely a new concept for our graduates .It is high time that our graduates in agriculture, veterinary, fisheries and dairy need to be sensitised on ABIs. The main lacuna is that we do not consider agriculture as an enterprise. This outlook needs to be changed. One way is to expose the students to some of the successful ventures in agriculture and allied sectors. I recollect the thought provoking talk of Prof. Srinivas on this topic during the national seminar of the Indian Veterinary Extension Forum organised at Puducherry in Aug,2015. Congratulation
Happy to see a blog coming from someone experienced like Dr Srinivas who has been grappling and hobnobbing with startups in recent past. This being a topic of current interest would cater to the information needs of many professionals in agricultural sector. I remember visiting with Dr Srinivas on 29th January/16 one startup -SARO Organic Farmfresh in the outskirts of Hyderabad nurtured by NAARM. Congratulations Dr Srinivas
Congrats for the excellent blog on Agribusiness incubation. I am not sure as to how many of our extension professionals will read this and appreciate I have a some queries which may be clarified. It is reported that ABI at ICRISAT started in 2003 and has incubated over 200 agribusiness ventures. How many are sustaining? Any study available on the present status of these ventures? More than a dozen ABIs in the name of BPD units exist in select ICAR institutes and SAUs in India. How many agribusiness ventures are incubated under BPD units? Any data? There is no mention about AC & ABC scheme of Govt of India operated by MANAGE. I understand that there are many agribusiness ventures started by entrepreneurs under the scheme. Can they be treated as start ups???? This may be clarified. How can FPOs be linked with agribusiness incubation? Convergence possibilities? Any link with Make in India programme possible?