Prof. J. P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu today said that Innovation and following right procedure is best way for setting up of Start-ups. He was speaking as a Chief Guest at the valedictory function of “Two month Agri-Entrepreneurship Startup Training programme” sponsored by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India and organized by Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-Jammu, A Unit of Division of Agricultural Economics and Agri Business Management, SKUAST-Jammu.The main focus of the training programme was to provide academic, business & technical mentoring to the selected incubates so as to give wings to their creative abilities & innovative ideas for setting up their start-ups. Prof. J.P Sharma briefed about the importance of innovation and agripreneurship for uplift of the agricultural sector as it is the need of the hour. As such maximum focus and attention should be given to boost the start-up ecosystem in the agriculture sector.As a huge majority of our country is working in the informal sector, it presents a lucrative opportunity to move towards agripreneurship activities so as to become job providers rather than job seekers. He advised young students and farmers especially to come up with new innovative ideas for processing and value addition of agri-produce, developing competencies in packaging, branding and marketing of agri-business products as these three are the most important tools towards doubling the farmers’ income. He discussed how animal husbandry can be an attractive viable alternative to agricultural practices as it can offer a better return on investment.
He also praised and congratulated Dr. Jyoti Kachroo, Head Division of AEABM & P.I. Agri Business Incubator, SKUAST-J on the successful completion of this two months training programme and assured her of full support from his side towards developing more and more start-ups in the near future as well. He also released the compendium of training programme material along-with official newsletter of Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-Jammu and distributed the certificates of completion of two months training programme among the incubates. Dr. Jag Paul Sharma, Director Research & Registrar, SKUAST-J congratulated the incubates on successful completion of their training programme and wished them all the best for their entrepreneurial journey. He appreciated the efforts of Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-Jammu in developing start-ups in Agriculture & its allied sectors as it is a big contribution from the University towards realizing the dream of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. He talked about emerging sectors which have a healthy scope of innovation & entrepreneurship like bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizers and organic farming.Earlier, Dr. Jyoti Kachroo, in her welcome address, informed the house about the activities undertaken during the programme. She highlighted the key focus areas and lectures delivered during the two month training programme. She informed the house that till date, Agri Business Incubator, SKUAST-Jammu has incubated 32 start-ups and has been instrumental in helping them secure grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs. 1.38 crore from the GoI for setting up and expanding their agri-entrepreneurial ventures. The incubates also shared their experience regarding the training programme and expressed their satisfaction and gratitude towards the efforts made by the Administration of the University, PI, Co-PIs and the other staff members of Agri business Incubator for facilitating and guiding them during their training journey. Rajesh Talwar, DPM & Comptroller, Heads of the various divisions, senior faculty members including Dr. S. P. Singh, Asstt. Prof. AEABM and students were present during the occasion. Staff of Agri-Business Incubator, SKUAST-J, Dr. Yamini Raut, Tarunjeet Singh & Janvi Gupta also attended the event. Proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr. Anil Bhat, Asst. Prof. AEABM. At the end of the programme, formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi, Assoc. Prof., AEABM.