ICAR-CIRCOT celebrated 10th DARE-ICAR-CIRCOT public awareness campaign under India @75 with “Sensitization about activities of CIRCOT-R-ABI and Inauguration of Agriprenership Orientation program (AOP) and Incubation Program of 3rd cohort of R-ABI” on 23rd

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbaicelebrated a public awareness campaign with “Sensitization about activities of CIRCOT-R-ABI and Inauguration of Agriprenership Orientation program (AOP) and Incubation Program of 3rd cohort of R-ABI” on 23 September 2021 at 4 pm at the Institute. This is the 10th DARE-ICAR-CIRCOT public awareness campaign under India @75.

Dr. Sujata Saxena, Director (Acting); who is also the Chairman of Raftaar Incubation Committee (R-IC) of CIRCOT-R-ABI inaugurated AOP and Incubation Program of 3rd cohort of R-ABI on Virtual Mode and congratulated the thirteen (13) selected candidates. In her presidential address, she said that the RKVY-Raftaar scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is an important scheme in the context of the ambitious campaigns of the Central Government for self-reliant India, Start-up Stand-up India and doubling the income of farmers. In order to encourage agricultural start-ups, through this scheme, the new entrepreneurs are awarded with grant-in-aid up to 5 lakh or 25 lakh with which agripreneurs can come up with innovative farming techniques which will help India to overcome the challenges of traditional farming and eliminate drudgery in agriculture. The scheme also nurtures value addition to agri-produce and any agri-business idea/concept which has potential of doubling the income of farmers and providing employment opportunities to the youth. She hoped that by taking advantage of the expert advisory services and incubation facilities provided by the CIRCOT-R-ABI, the new cohort of agripreneurs will dedicate themselves to nurture their idea/concept and come out with fine-tuned technology / business plan which with funding support from RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme will make our country self-reliant in agriculture realm.

Thereafter all the 13 candidates selected for the third cohort of CIRCOT-R-ABI introduced themselves and shared their technology idea / business concept with the attendees. Mr. Hemant Ladgaokar, Manager, R-ABI apprised everyone about the activities scheduled in AOP.

Dr. Ashok Bharimalla, PI & CEO, shared the successful journey of CIRCOT-R-ABI being one of the 29 ABIs selected in the country and how it implemented the scheme through first and second cohort. He thanked all the subject experts and R-ABI team for their enduring expertise and support in nurturing the incubatees of R-ABI.

About 200 stakeholders participated in this campaign through online and offline modes including scientists, technologists, veteran experts, entrepreneurs and incubatees associated with R-ABI and subject experts designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.