Sensitization workshop held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 22 2018: A state level sensitization workshop on "Agripreneurship Development for Increasing Farm Income and Promotion of Agri-business in Manipur" was organized by ICAR Manipur Centre yesterday.

The workshop was organised with the aim to raise awareness among aspiring agripreneurs on the role of Agri Business Incubators, different options for entrepreneurship development, Government schemes for entrepreneurship development and marketing strategies for fresh and processed farm produces etc.

The inaugural function was graced by Prof M Premjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, CAU Imphal as chief guest, PN Praveen Kumar, General Manager, NABARD, Manipur as guest of honour and Dr G Kadirvel, Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator (ABI), ICAR-RC-NEHR, Umiam, Meghalaya as special guest.

The chief guest highlighted the importance of ABI in devolving and nurturing the agripreneurs with special target on school dropouts and unemployed youths, instead of traditional farmers for promoting agri-business agri-preneurship.

He also emphasized on the impact analysis of every sensitization programme conducted on district or State levels and suggested to adopt strategies like varietal replacement, SRI, integrated crop management, farm mechanization and participatory seed production for enhancing the farm production.

The guest of honour emphasized on agripreneurship.

He also stressed on different Government schemes like Agri-clinic and Agri-business centre, Dairy Development Schemes, National Livestock Mission, etc.

which can directly benefit the agripreneurs.

Meanwhile, special guest in his speech signified Manipur as a key strategic location and a good business hub for the Asian countries due to its trilateral highway, skilled human resources and availability of natural resources.

He also suggested that commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants and improvement of backward and forward linkage will enhance the scope of Agri- business entrepreneur-ship in Manipur.

Dr I Meghachandra Singh, Joint Director, ICAR, Manipur Centre highlighted the needs of value addition through processing and coordination of all private and public agencies/ organizations to enhance income through agripreneurship.

The presidential speech was delivered by Dr N Prakash, Director, ICAR-RC-NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya highlighting the success stories of ABI in ICAR-RC-NEH Region.

The inaugural programme was followed by technical sessions wherein experts from NGI Skill India, MSME Technology Centre, MSFAC, NERAMAC and ICAR deliberated.

100 agripreneurs including budding start-ups and extension functionaries from different districts of Manipur viz.

Ukhrul, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur attended.

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