AFBIC, IIT Kharagpur and ICAR-ATARI Kolkata Jointly Catalyse Agri-Entrepreneurship and Agri-Startup Ecosystem

16 May 2026, Kharagpur & Kolkata

In a significant move to strengthen the agri-startup landscape, a virtual interactive session on “Transforming Agriculture through Technology & Entrepreneurship” was jointly organized by the Agri-Food Business Incubation Centre (AFBIC), IIT Kharagpur and ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata. The programme brought together agri-entrepreneurs, start-ups and stakeholders linked with agri-entrepreneurship, creating a dynamic platform to accelerate innovation-led agricultural transformation. The initiative assumes greater importance as AFBIC, IIT Kharagpur serves as the designated RKVY-RAFTAAR incubator for West Bengal.

Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, underscored the need for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem spanning agri-horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, secondary agriculture, value addition, and post-harvest sectors. He emphasized that institutional convergence, technology-driven innovation, and youth entrepreneurship hold the key to unlocking rural economic opportunities and advancing the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The session provided a comprehensive overview of the RKVY-RAFTAAR framework, detailing eligibility norms, application procedures, and the selection process offering practical guidance to aspiring innovators seeking to translate ideas into scalable enterprises.

The session highlighted the three core pillars of the RKVY-RAFTAAR ecosystem funding, incubation, and mentorship designed to nurture sustainable agri-enterprises. Participants gained insights into funding opportunities, including grants of up to ₹5 lakh for idea-stage innovations and ₹25 lakh or more for early-stage start-ups, enabling a pathway from innovation to commercialization. The programme also showcased the incubation support available through AFBIC, including co-working infrastructure, laboratory access, IP and legal facilitation, technical mentoring, business advisory services, and market-oriented enterprise development.
A strong emphasis was placed on building resilient agri-business models through market linkages, value-chain integration, climate-smart innovations, and investor connect.

The event witnessed active participation from 24 agri-startups and grassroots agri-entrepreneurs from West Bengal and beyond. An engaging interactive session allowed participants to directly connect with experts, exchange ideas, seek clarifications, and explore incubation and collaboration opportunities.

Concluding the programme, the organizers reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing rural innovators through sustained handholding, capacity building, and institutional collaboration involving KVKs, incubators, and strategic partners, paving the way for a vibrant, scalable, and sustainable agri-entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.

(Source: ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)