Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir conducted a virtual agri-startup meet with an aim to give student and faculty startups a platform to connect with industry leaders and mentors under Assocham Startup Launchpad.

The meet themed ‘Role of Agri-Tech Startups and its perspective on Indian Farmer’ was organised in collaboration with industry body ASSOCHAM under the World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) for the institutional development of SKUAST-K.

This event was instrumental in creating an industry link for the startup in Jammu and Kashmir and first of its kind initiative to encourage innovators and startups of SKUAST-K and the industry members to work together and create partnerships beneficial to both the stakeholders.

This initiative was the first of its kind in any agricultural university which brought industry, associations and successful Indian startups in the agricultural sector under one platform and provided a unique opportunity with both for startups to pitch to industry leaders who, in turn, get exposed to young entrepreneurs with new ideas which helped them with techniques and innovation in agri-industry.

The event was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and Sr Member, ASSOCHAM National Council of Agriculture & VP, UPL Ltd, Ombeer Tyagi.

After the inaugural speeches, technical and interactive sessions were held in which startup personalities like Prachi Rajpal of CropIn Technology Solutions, Rajneesh Prasad founder Revy Environmental Solutions, Satendrasingh Lilhare Founder of Bastar se Bazaar tak), Saji Kurungatil Varghese Founder of Brown Reed Agri Waste Innovations, Yogesh Kumar Sonkar Founder of Nature Wall Biotech threw light on the experiences they gained while being in the journey of entrepreneurship and interacted with the innovators of the SKUAST-K. They assured full support and help to the innovators and startup founders of SKUAST-K.  

Prof Azmat Alam Khan (OSD to Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir and Co-PI NAHEP, Prof Haroon Rasheed Naikoo, Director Planning & Monitoring, SKUAST-K shared their inputs and the status of university in innovation and entrepreneurship and how we are taking lead in bridging the gap between the academia and industry.

The event was coordinated by Prof Raihana Habib Kanth, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Wadura, Dr Naveed Hamid, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cell from SKUAST Kashmir and Robinson from The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).