startups.

Taking major policy initiatives for agriculture startups Tomar made several key announcements at the agri startup conference on the second day of PM Kisan Samman Sammelan

Central government is going to start a Rs 500 crore accelerator programme to enhance the successful initiatives of agri startups, said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday. 

Taking major policy initiatives for agriculture startups Tomar made several key announcements at the agri startup conference on the second day of PM Kisan Samman Sammelan. 

Tomar announced that an executive committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary composed of concerned agencies like the Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE), DPIIT, agricultural incubators and knowledge partners, agricultural universities, research institutes, top investors and other stakeholders. 

A portal will also be developed to create a database for all agriculture startups and monitor their development.  

Tomar said that efforts will be made to organise agri startup conclave at national and regional levels to promote startups in the agriculture sector.

He also said that the government is committed to developing technology. The government wants our startups to be useful to the country and the world by solving the existing challenges. 

In this direction, the Ministry of Agriculture, along with the DARE and other institutions including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working with utmost commitment.  

Tomar said that it is necessary to popularise technology, only then people will get its real benefit, as well as technology, should be affordable to the common man. 

Startups should work by deciding their focus and sector so that farmers can draw full benefits of their output, he added.