In a significant initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the agritech sector, the ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) Agri-Business Incubator, in collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, and the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), has introduced a groundbreaking scheme known as the Certified Agritech Startup Professional Scheme (CAgtSP). This scheme aims to cultivate a new generation of talent equipped with the skills and expertise needed to drive agritech startups to success.
The CAgtSP scheme entails the attachment of students with the ICAR-CTCRI Agri-Business Incubator for a duration of one year. During this period, students will be actively engaged in mentoring agritech startups, playing a pivotal role in various aspects of startup development, including business plan formulation, drafting agreements, securing seed funding, and establishing market linkages. By immersing themselves in real-world startup scenarios, students will gain invaluable experience and insights into the intricacies of agritech entrepreneurship.
The launch of the CAgtSP scheme marks a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders in the agritech ecosystem. With the support of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, and the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), ICAR-CTCRI is paving the way for the next generation of agritech innovators and leaders. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, the scheme creates a conducive environment for fostering innovation and driving economic growth in the agritech sector.
At the launch event held at the College of Agriculture, esteemed speakers including G. Byju, Director of CTCRI; Roy Stephen, Dean of Faculty at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani; Allan Thomas, Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension Education; and P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, Principal Scientist at ICAR-CTCRI and Programme Director, emphasized the importance of empowering students to become agents of change in the agritech landscape. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 168 final-year BSc (Agriculture) students, marking the commencement of the first phase of the CAgtSP scheme.
In essence, the Certified Agritech Startup Professional Scheme (CAgtSP) represents a pioneering initiative that holds immense promise for catalyzing innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving sustainable development in the agritech sector. By nurturing the talents of aspiring agritech enthusiasts, the scheme is poised to unleash a wave of transformative change, propelling agritech startups to new heights of success and impact.