Need to promote natural farming and use of recycled water in agriculture: MoS, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI

Aug 05, 2024

NEW DELHI, 05 August 2024: Mr Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt of India today said that agriculture has played an important role in India's economy, contributing to inclusive growth, rural incomes and food security. “The government is committed to keeping the agriculture sector viable, innovative and sustainable through its policies and schemes,” he added.

 

Addressing the ‘6^th edition of FICCI Agri Startup Summit & Awards’, Mr Choudhary emphasized that there is a need to focus on promoting natural farming along with the use of recycled water in agriculture. “It is imperative that we should focus on promoting natural farming along with conserving water. We need to not only conserve water but promote the use of recycled water in farming. The government is working on interlinking the rivers in India recycling of water is necessary in farming,” he highlighted. Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. We must promote practices that enhance soil health, ensuring a resilient future for our farmers and our nation, he also added.

 

The Minister while applauding FICCI for organizing the Agri Startup awards and said that this platform not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of agriculture startups but also provides vital support and incentives, encouraging innovation and growth.

 

Mr Choudhary also stated that the programs like ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) – Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RATAAR) launched by the government aims to strengthen the efforts of farmers, risk mitigation and agribusiness entrepreneurship. We have supported a few thousand startups since the scheme launched in 2018, he noted.

 

Speaking on the Agri startups, the Minister said that the government's initiatives, like the Startup India program and the recently announced Agri-Sure Fund by NABARD, are designed to provide financial and technical support to agritech startups. “Agri-Sure represents a significant leap forward in our efforts to support innovative and sustainable solutions,” he added.

 

Mr Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Startups and Technology said that through these awards, we have supported around 150 startups in agriculture sector. “We now have a healthy startup eco-system in agriculture sector. There are around 6,000 active startups actively working in the sector by helping farmers in various segments including productivity, financing, insurance, helping in marketing and buying quality inputs for farming,” he added.

 

Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI said that AgriTech startups are revolutionizing Indian agriculture, serving as a beacon of innovation and hope. The agritech sector has the potential to generate 10 million jobs in rural India, she added.

Mr. Shantanu Pendsey, Chief General Manager (ABU&GSS), SBI observed, Farmers bear the highest risks but reap the smallest rewards as they are often excluded from the supply and process chains. To enhance a farmer’s income, we must transition them from mere producers to processors, thereby shifting the value within the chain towards the farmer.

Mr. TR Kesvan, Group President, TAFE emphasized, India is in urgent need of innovations for two primary reasons: to elevate the income of small and marginal farmers and to minimize wastage throughout the agriculture value chain. These areas should be at the forefront as we strive for technology-driven growth in future agriculture. Women-led start-ups are crucial to this transformative journey.

Ms. Anuja Kadian, Chair, FICCI Taskforce on Sustainable Agriculture, Government & Industry Affairs, Director, Asia Pacific, Corteva pointed out, Agri startups have the potential to play a pivotal role in tackling the challenges faced by Indian farmers, particularly those related to climate and sustainability. Merging these innovations with advanced technological solutions could significantly alter the landscape.

Ms. Vaishali Chopra, Head- Public Affairs and Communications India, Yara highlighted, Understanding the target market deeply and developing solutions that address real-world challenges for Indian farmers is vital for any Agri startup’s success. Through Yara Growth Ventures, we are dedicated to partnering with agri-tech startups, offering our expertise, networks, and resources to foster their growth and impact. Collaboration and knowledge sharing are the cornerstones of a thriving, sustainable agri-tech ecosystem.

Mr Arvind Jha, Associate Director, Agri-food-agribusiness practice, One Consulting, PwC India shared the perspective on the emerging trends and unleashing potential of Agri startups in India.

 

During the event, FICCI Agri Startup Awards were announced.

 

List of Award winners:

 

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Winners of 6th Edition of Startup Summit and Awards 2024
No.	Category	Position	Awardees
1	Best Agtech in Sustainable Agriculture	First	Renewagri Om Ecommerce Pvt Ltd
2		First	Unnati (Akshamaala Solutions Pvt Ltd)
3		Second	Bandhu Renewable private limited
4	Best Women Agtech Entrepreneurs	Special Jury Award	PureMe Organics
5	Best Agri Fintech Startup	First	Ergos- The Grainbank
6		Second	Whrrl Fintech Solutions
7		Third	Jai Kisan
8		Third	Apna Godam
9	Best Startup in Agri Biologicals	First	Barrix Agro Sciences Pvt Ltd.
10		Second	Bioprime Agrisolutions Pvt Ltd
11		Third	String Bio
12	Most Innovative Agtech Startup	First	Farmonaut Technologies Private Limited
13		Second	Innoterra BioScience Private Limited
14		Third	Boomitra