Early Times Report
Jammu, June 23: Professor J.P. Sharma, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu urged the potential agri start-ups to come up with innovative ideas and products which are technically feasible and economically viable thereby tapping into the opportunities present in the market and plugging the available gaps in the agriculture sector. Prof. Sharma was speaking while chairing the seventh R-ABI Incubation Committee (RIC) meeting of Agri Business Incubator, SKUAST-Jammu under the RKVY-RAFTAAR project held at Main Campus, Chatha of SKUAST-Jammu. Prof. Sharma greeted all the present experts along with those who joined through online mode and appreciated their valuable presence and relevant inputs despite their busy schedules for selecting the right candidates to be incubated under RKVY-RAFTAAR project sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. of India. Prof. Sharma in his concluding remarks said that the conceptual ideas and prototypes developed by the participants were worth appreciating. He further added that special focus needs be given on natural input products in order to promote natural farming which is the vision of Hon’ble P.M Sh. Narendra Modi. Infrastructure development, vocational education, brain storming on problems and hand holding of start-ups were listed as key action points by him. He expressed satisfaction that Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-J is taking the right steps in this direction as the current era is one of start-ups and entrepreneurship. He also appreciated Prof. Jyoti Kachroo, Director P&M, Head AEABM and P.I of the project and her team for her efforts in nurturing and developing agri start-ups through A.B.I, SKUAST-Jammu. Earlier Prof. Jyoti Kachroo briefed about all the major activities and progress achieved in the recent past by Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-J under the RKVY-RAFTAAR project and also welcomed all the members of RIC who were attending the meeting for evaluation of the 5th batch of potential incubates for their admission to the two month agri-entrepreneurship training programmes named UDGAM & PRAGATI along with further recommendation of first batch incubated startups for release of second installment of funds sanctioned in their favor. She informed the august house about the dynamic role being played by A.B.I SKUAST-J in the training & development of agri start-ups under the project. All the incubates presented their innovative concepts and agri-business plans before the committee. The experts from different fields viz. Mr. K.K Sharma, Director Agriculture, Jammu, Mr. Mahesh Verma, Jt. Director Agriculture (Marketing), Prof. Dileep Kachroo, Ex-Registrar, SKUAST-Jammu, Prof. Ashok Aima, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu, Dr. Pradeep Wali, Director Research, SKUAST-Jammu, Mr. Annil Suri, MD, AB Industries, Jammu, Mr. Des Raj, AGM, NABARD, Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Member CII, Mr. Ankush Kohli, Chartered Accountant, Mr. Kiran RS and Mr. Vikas Mishra, ICAR-IARI nominees, New Delhi attended the meeting and evaluated the business ideas of the participants. Co P.I’s of the project namely Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi, Assoc. Prof., Dr. S.P Singh, Astt. Prof. and Dr. Anil Bhat, Astt. Prof., division of AEABM were also present during the meeting. The proceedings of the meeting were conducted by Dr. Yamini Raut & Mr. Tarunjeet Singh from A.B.I SKUAST-J. At the end, vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi thanking all the distinguished dignitaries for their valuable participation. |
