JAMMU: Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, Prof. J.P. Sharma today called for applying innovative self-reliance ideas for establishment of new Agriculture start-ups under Pragati (Seed Stage Funding ) and Udgam (Pre seed Stage) programme launched by Agribusiness Incubator Centre, SKUAST-Jammu (A Division of Agricultural Economics and ABM) and recommended for funding to Government of India.He was speaking at the 2nd meeting of RABI Incubation Committee (2020-21) in the capacity of Chairman under the RKVY-RAFTAAR project funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, GoI, New DelhiAt the first instance, he congratulated incubates for their efforts and the staff involved in providing such a platform for heading a step towards self-reliant India.Prof. Sharma urged the incubates that their innovative ideas and products should tap the present market opportunities and advised them to get connected for field trials and pilot testing for refining of their products, so that it can compete global market. He lauded the efforts of Prof. Jyoti Kachroo, Head, AEABM and P.I and her staff for creating and boosting the start-up ecosystem and arranging training for the batch of young entrepreneurs at such a scale.Earlier Prof. Jyoti Kachroo (Head, AEABM & PI, R-ABI, Jammu) briefed about the programme and welcomed all the members of RIC, invited for evaluation of the incubates for the further recommendation of their startups for Pre-seed and Seed stage funding to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, New Delhi.All the incubates presented their innovative concepts before the committee.The experts from different fields viz. Prof. Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor, Central University Jammu, Annil Suri, MD, AB Industries, SIDCO Industrial Complex, Jammu; Rahul Shashni DGM, NABARD and Ankush Kohli, Chartered Accountant attended the meeting physically.Meanwhile K.K Sharma Agricultural Economist, Directorate of Agriculture, Jammu and Dr. Shivam Sharma, ICAR-IARI nominee, New Delhi attended the meeting through online mode and evaluated the business ideas of the participants.The Co-PIs of the project viz Dr Sudhakar Dwivedi, Associate Professor, and Dr. Anil Bhat, Assistant Professor were also present during the meeting.Business Executives, Ashish Isher and Tarunjeet facilitated online streaming of the whole programme.Proceedings of the meeting were conducted by Dr Anil Bhat. At the end vote of thanks was given by Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi.
