Overview
The Government is set to launch the 'Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises'
(AgriSURE), a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment
Fund (AIF) aimed at supporting start-ups and agripreneurs in the agriculture
sector. Announced at a pre-launch stakeholder meet in Mumbai, this fund will
provide both equity and debt investments to foster innovation and sustainability
in agriculture. It will be managed by NABVENTURES, a NABARD subsidiary, and will
focus on enhancing the agricultural value chain, rural infrastructure, and
employment.
Complementing this initiative, NABARD has introduced the AgriSURE
Greenathon 2024, a hackathon designed to address key challenges
such as cost-effective smart agriculture, profitable agri-waste management, and
making regenerative agriculture economically viable. This event seeks to engage
innovative minds to contribute solutions that advance India's agricultural
sector.
Track 1: Smart Agriculture on a Budget
Problem: The high cost of smart agriculture
technologies, like advanced sensors and data analysis platforms,
creates a barrier to entry for small and marginal farmers.
Track 2: Turning Agri-waste into Profitable
Business Opportunities
Problem: Agricultural waste poses a significant
environmental challenge, while farmers miss out on potential
income streams from proper waste management. Turning Agri-Waste
into something profitable and useful for farmers has its own set
of unique challenges and benefits.
Track 3: Tech Solutions Making Regenerative
Problem: Delay in sustainability action,
Regenerative agriculture practices, while demonstrably
beneficial for long-term soil health, biodiversity, and climate
change mitigation, often face economic hurdles for adoption.
The AgriSURE Greenathon saw more than 3200 registrations and final submission of
more than 500
prototypes/ideas. After a rigorous screening & selection, the final top 10 teams
participated in
the grand finale of AgriSURE Greenathon. Greensapio, Krushikanti, and Ambronics
emerged as the
top three winners from a pool of top ten finalists, sharing a prize fund of ₹6
lakhs.
The details of winning teams are as follows:
| Position |
Team Name |
Team Members |
Topics |
| 1st |
Greensapio |
1. Tarun Sharma
2. Arun Sharma
3. Shikha pandey
|
Turning Agri-waste into Profitable Business Opportunities |
| 2nd |
Krushikranti |
Sunil Laxman Rathod
|
Smart Agriculture on a Budget |
| 3rd |
Ambronics |
Swapnil Ambore
|
Smart Agriculture on a Budget |