Icrisat launches first of five expos on farm sector opportunities

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) on Sunday launched the Krishi Parivartan Yatra, hosting the first of the five agro-tech and business opportunities expos scheduled to take place in five cities in India.

Krishi Parivartan Yatra (a journey of agricultural transformation) takes 50 farmers and entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of the World Bank-funded National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), on a five-city tour to share new technologies and agro-ventures with fellow farmers.

The activity is being organised by NAIP to promote cross-learning and sharing of success stories among farmers across the country so as to strengthen agri-business and boost the transformation of Indian agriculture. It will conclude and culminate in the Agri-Innovation Conclave in New Delhi on 18 May. The first expo held at Icrisat showcased the best of enterprises developed through NAIP initiatives.

''Innovation in agriculture is widely considered as the key to achieve food security. To actualise this vast untapped potential of Indian agriculture, this Krishi Parivartan Yatra is being organised to bring to the fore the unlimited opportunities that agriculture and agribusiness offer,'' D Rama Rao, national director, NAIP, said in a release from Hyderabad. 

''Our mission is to make small-holder farmers in the drylands prosperous, not just self-sufficient. And that is why we are engaged in promoting an inclusive and technology-based entrepreneurship and agri-business programme,'' said Joanna Kane-Potaka, strategic communication and marketing director, Icrisat.

According to S M Karuppanchetty, chief operating officer, Icrisat-Agri-Business Incubation (ABI), the ABI programme has supported more than 200 agri-business ventures and benefited over 500,000 farmers.