New Delhi: There is a need to focus on promoting natural farming along with the use of recycled water in agriculture. We must focus on promoting natural farming along with conserving water. We need to not only conserve water but also promote the use of recycled water in farming. The government is working on interlinking the rivers in India and recycling of water is necessary for farming, Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India today said in New Delhi.
Addressing the ‘6th edition of the FICCI Agri Startup Summit & Awards’, Choudhary emphasised that healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. “We must promote practices that enhance soil health, ensuring a resilient future for our farmers and our nation,” he added.
“Agriculture has played an important role in India’s economy, contributing to inclusive growth, rural incomes and food security. The government is committed to keeping the agriculture sector viable, innovative and sustainable through its policies and schemes,” the minister said.
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The minister while applauding FICCI for organising the Agri Startup Awards said that this platform not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of agriculture startups but also provides vital support and incentives, encouraging innovation and growth.
Choudhary also said that the programmes like ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RFATAAR) launched by the Government aims to strengthen the efforts of farmers, risk mitigation and agribusiness entrepreneurship. We have supported a few thousand startups since the scheme launched in 2018, he noted.
Speaking on the agri startups, the minister said that the government’s initiatives, like the Startup India programme and the recently announced Agri-Sure Fund by NABARD, are designed to provide financial and technical support to agritech startups. “Agri-Sure represents a significant leap forward in our efforts to support innovative and sustainable solutions,” he added.
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Speaking at the occasion, Hemendra Mathur, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Agri Startups and Technology said that through these awards, we have supported around 150 startups in the agriculture sector. “We now have a healthy startup ecosystem in the agriculture sector. There are around 6,000 active startups actively working in the sector by helping farmers in various segments including productivity, financing, insurance, helping marketing and buying quality inputs for farming,” he added.
Addressing the event, Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI said that agritech startups are revolutionising Indian agriculture, serving as a beacon of innovation and hope. The agritech sector has the potential to generate 10 million jobs in rural India, she added.
