R-ABI

RKVY–RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator

All over the world, incubators are receiving attention for developing new enterprises in the field of technology, service, business ideas etc. in research institutions and universities. The Government of India has also attempted to revive the technology and business development ecosystem in various sectors through its rejuvenated flagship programmes. The Agriculture sector which, as per the Indian Economic Survey 2018, still employs over 50 per cent of the Indian workforce and contributes around 17-18 percent to the country’s GDP, has its own unique ecosystem and opportunities in the realm of business. Therefore, a revamped “Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation” (RKVY-RAFTAAR) scheme has been launched in 2017-18 with a component for innovation and agrientrepreneurship, to specifically cater the need and modalities for agribusiness promotion.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is an important scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, aimed at strengthening infrastructure to promote agripreneurship and agribusiness by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. The RKVY-RAFTAAR supports agribusiness incubation by tapping innovations and technologies for venture creation in agriculture that includes Agri-Biotech; Agriculture / Horticulture / Natural Resource Management; Sustainable Agriculture / Organic farming / Vermicomposting / Mushroom Farming / Protected Cultivation of Fruit & Vegetable crops and Flowers; Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fishery; Agri-Input tools and technologies, Micro Irrigation, Farm Mechanization and Agricultural Engineering, Precision Farming; Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing; Food Processing; Supply Chain Management, Farm Retailing; Agricultural Extension Education; Internet of Things (IoT), Information and communications technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture; Waste to Wealth, Secondary Agriculture; Agri Clinics & Farm Health services, Cotton and Other Natural Fibres, Nanotechnology Application in Agriculture, Green Composites, Paper, Pulp and Packaging etc. In this process, incubation facilities and expertise already available with participating academic, technical, management and R&D institutions in the country shall be utilized on an individual or collective basis to harness synergies.

College of Horticulture & Forestry (CHF), a premier constituent college of Central Agricultural University, Imphal, established on 7^th March 2001 at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh on the bank of beautiful river Siang and conferred with many awards & medals including the prestigious ICAR – JRF award consistently. It is not only to cater the academic, research and extension needs, but also to promote agri-business in various domains of horticulture and allied sectors of entire North Eastern Region (NER). It has been bestowed with an incubator namely CHF R-ABI (RKVY–RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator) under RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme during March, 2019, to support agribusiness incubation by tapping innovations and technologies for venture creation in agriculture and allied sectors.

CHF R-ABI is an agri-innovation hub and agri-business incubation centre, supported and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), Govt. of India, New Delhi, under the above said Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY–RAFTAAR) scheme. It is skilfully catalyzing the transfer of its technologies from lab to startups, entrepreneurs and farmers through this agribusiness incubation centre. The CHF R-ABI is a vibrant facilitation platform for aggregation and networking of various stakeholders including innovators, agripreneurs, investors, mentors and other institutions / bodies.

Under this Project, new agribusiness incubators (ABIs) will be established as well as existing agribusiness incubators are strengthened as R-ABIs with need-based infrastructure, equipment and manpower. These R-ABIs will in turn invite applications from agripreneurs in different stages of the business life cycle (ideation/expansion) and provide them an opportunity to generate innovations in agriculture and allied sector. These innovations may include, for example, technological solutions/ processes / products / services / business platforms, etc. that could enhance productivity or increase efficiency in agriculture and allied activities thereby enhancing remuneration/ farmers’ income, rural economy and wealth. Aligning farmers to market through value chain approach with a sustainable development agenda will be the other key objective of the incubation/ agripreneurship development programme under RKVY-RAFTAAR.

The project consists of two major programmes viz. Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) / Pre – Seed Stage Funding and Seed Stage Funding (SSF).

1. Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) / Pre- Seed Stage Funding

Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) of RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme aims to provide an opportunity to students/youth to work on their innovative ideas on technological solutions/processes/products/services/business platforms etc. The incubatees will be given two months workshop or training cum hands-on internship programme at the CHF R-ABI, during which they will be guided by experienced technology mentors and successful innovators, and thereby they will be able to understand business concepts / nuances, strategy and gain practical insights into markets, challenges and develop strategies to resolve them. A stipend of ₹ 10,000/- per month will be granted from CHF-R-ABI to these interns for two months during the hands on training period. After successful completion of the two months orientation programme, the CHF R-ABI will facilitate incorporation of entities for all viable business ideas by the incubatees. Under this, a subsistence grant of a maximum ₹ 5 lakhs will be provided to the eligible incubatees who have successfully completed the initial period of two months of agripreneurship orientation programme and are aspiring to convert their innovative idea into a prototype / product.

2. Seed Stage Funding

Seed Stage Funding (SSF) of RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme provides grant-in-aid to startups. Under this scheme financial assistance of maximum up to ₹ 25 lakhs will be granted to potential startups that have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) based on innovative solutions/processes / products / services / business model in agriculture and allied sectors. The applicant incubatees would be provided funds as per their genuine requirements and as per appraisal/evaluation of their business plan by the RKVY-RAFTAAR Selection & Monitoring Committee (RC) and the decision of the RC in this regard will be final. The RC will not be bound to give any reason in case an application is rejected.

This support will assist the incubatees to launch their products/ services/ business platforms etc. into the market and help them to scale up their operations as well as to attain business viability at a faster pace. This support will also facilitate them to attract investments from angel/venture capitalists or taking loan from commercial banks / financial institutions for further scaling-up of their business operations.

With respect to above, applications are invited from eligible startups having an innovative idea in technological solutions/processes / products / services / business platforms, etc. and want to start an agri-business venture with Seed Stage Funding as grant-in-aid under RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme at CHF R-ABI, Pasighat.

R-ABI Team

Dr.B.N.Hazarika

Dean & Co-Principal Investigator

0368 2224887

chfdeanpsg@gmail.com

Dr.A.S.Mailappa
Assistant Professor (SS & AC) &
Principal Investigator &

Chief Executive Officer

94024 74635

sumayilii@rediffmail.com

Ninna Lego, B.E., MBA (HR & Marketing), PMYY(e-Leader)

Business Manager

9354975219