In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said about 173 women start-ups or entrepreneurs have been supported under the “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme.
As per the Census 2011 conducted by the Registrar General of India, the total number of women farmers as cultivators are 3.60 crore and agricultural labour are 6.15 crore in the country, said the Minister
Tomar said “The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem.”
This Ministry has appointed five Knowledge Partners (KPs) as Centres of Excellence and twenty-four RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country for implementation this programme, he underlined
So far, 173 women startups/ entrepreneurs have been supported under the “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme, Tomar claimed.
Besides, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been supporting Agri-based startups under the project called National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF) initiated in year 2016-2017.
So far, 50 Agri-Business Incubation Centers (ABICs) have been established and are operational in ICAR network under NAIF scheme. Potential women startups/ entrepreneurs can avail benefit from these programmes, said the Minister.