VAMNICOM ties up with “The Farm” to support start-ups in agri sectors

Vamnicom, in collaboration with THE FARM, organized a one-day Business Ideation Workshop in Pune recently aimed at supporting emerging startups and entrepreneurs in the agricultural and cooperative sectors.

During the workshop, Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM, emphasized enhancing the technical know-how and capabilities of startups to boost business momentum for PACS and other collectives. THE FARM founders, Mr. Sarvesh Ghangle and Mr. Ritesh Phopalgaht, provided expert guidance and valuable inputs to help startups develop innovative business models for the cooperative ecosystem.

Dr. Mahesh Kadam, Associate Professor and COO of the VAMNICOM Cooperative Incubation Centre, discussed new schemes and initiatives from the Ministry of Cooperation aimed at strengthening PACS as resilient business entities. He highlighted the potential for startups and cooperatives to collaborate, leading to sustainable income opportunities.

Dr. Aditya Jagdish Dinkar, Research Officer, provided information on new funding opportunities and successful business models where startups and cooperatives work together.

The ideation workshop featured 18 startups and entrepreneurs with innovative business models in areas such as indigenous food production, dairy, fisheries, post-harvest management, supply chain management, apiculture, and tech-based resource management. These startups will now be incubated under the VAMNICOM Incubation Centre to support the growth and development of PACS and other collectives.

The workshop was held under the aegis of VAMNICOM’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, which has established the VAMNICOM Cooperative Incubation Centre. This center aims to foster business diversity within the cooperative ecosystem by providing comprehensive support to stakeholders such as Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and startups. Currently, 15 startups are registered under the VAMNICOM Incubation Centre, where they receive essential guidance and new business opportunities.

The Incubation Centre operates through a three-phase approach:

Phase I: Registration and Linking – Startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators who can offer products and services to diversify the businesses of cooperative stakeholders are registered with the Incubation Centre.

Phase II: Design Thinking and Business Development – This phase involves conducting business ideation workshops and development programs to strengthen the business framework with innovative ideas or models from registered startups and entrepreneurs.

Phase III: Networking and Market Strategies – This final phase focuses on go-to-market strategies, product launches, and securing funds from various entities, convergence schemes, and subsidies to support the incubated collective stakeholders.