New Delhi, Sep 29: Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, on Friday said that startups are a critical factor in India’s Amrit Kaal journey for the next 25 years. He emphasised the need for wider synergy among research, academia, startups, and industry to have a win-win proposition for both innovative product development and effective national and global branding.
Addressing the Agri-Tech Startup Conclave titled “ATMAN-2023”, Dr Singh noted that over the last decade, 142 Deep-Tech Startups have been established in the Agriculture sector and that 60 more will be added today during the Atman Conclave, a True Sangam of four IITs — Ropar, Bombay, Indore, and Kharagpur, working together to address the agricultural challenges facing the country.
He described Atman as a unique platform providing financial and technical assistance to potential startups with promising ideas, innovations, and technologies for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, and market entry. The Technology Innovation Hubs at IITs Bombay, Ropar, Indore, and Kharagpur have collaborated to offer a total fund of Rs 20 Crore, providing financial support to each startup of up to Rs 50 lakhs.
The union minister emphasised the call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for technological interventions in the agriculture sector in Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan. He pointed out that the agricultural sector in India faces numerous challenges such as climate change, fragmented landholdings, and resource constraints. “India needs to introduce suitable technological interventions, modernise its agricultural practices, enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve the overall efficiency of the sector,” he said.
Referring to the success of the CSIR-led Lavender Mission, Dr Jitendra underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the efforts of CSIR-IIIM in supporting farmers in the cultivation of Lavender in the Bhaderwah, Doda district, J&K under CSIR-Aroma Mission. “It is time to bring technological interventions to the agricultural sector, India’s traditional sector, to modernise it, cater to the challenges, drive towards sustainability and address global food security,” he said.
The ATMAN 2023 programme, planned to promote Innovation and Entrepreneurship and support the AgriTech Startup Ecosystem, has brought together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, farmer producer organizations and NGOs, advancing AgriTech innovation in India.
