Significant development for the agricultural sector, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today launched the AgriSURE scheme in New Delhi. AgriSURE - Agri Fund for Start-ups and Rural Enterprises is an innovative fund that marks a pioneering step towards revolutionizing the agricultural landscape in India. With a focus on technology-driven, high-risk, and high-impact ventures, AgriSURE is designed to promote growth and innovation in the agricultural and rural start-up ecosystem. This is a ₹750 crore blended capital fund, with contributions from the Government of India of ₹250 crore, NABARD contributing ₹250 crore, and the remaining ₹250 crore being mobilized from banks, insurance companies, and private investors through SEBI registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, emphasized that the government's vision is to empower every farmer, and the launch of the AgriSURE fund is a testament to the unwavering commitment to the agricultural sector. In his keynote address, Shri Chouhan highlighted the transformative potential of the newly launched initiatives. He stated that the AgriSURE fund continues the government's previous efforts to ensure that every farmer in India receives the technological support necessary for growth. He further mentioned that the prosperity of farmers will lead to a prosperous economy as they will spend their wealth on consumption, and farming is the backbone of the country, with farmers being its lifeblood.
Shri Chouhan reiterated the government’s commitment to the agricultural community, stating, "Our vision is to empower every farmer, and the launch of the AgriSURE fund is a testament to our unwavering dedication to the agricultural sector. The government will relentlessly strive towards increasing production, reducing production costs for farmers, ensuring remunerative prices, promoting crop diversification, preventing post-harvest losses, and safeguarding farmers during crop losses through crop insurance.
During the event, AgriSURE Greenathon Awards were also conferred, recognizing the most innovative start-ups that have developed technology-centric solutions to address challenges faced by farmers. Greenathon was launched on 12th July 2024 in Mumbai, and its grand finale was held before the scheme's launch. Out of 2000 budding agri start-ups, over 500 prototypes were screened, and 10 finalists presented their ideas. The top three start-ups—Greensapio, Krushikanti, and Ambronics—were awarded as Winner, Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up, respectively. With a prize pool of ₹6 lakhs, Greenathon not only rewarded excellence but also provided a platform for start-ups to present their ideas to a wide network of stakeholders for future collaboration. During the event, Shri Devesh Chaturvedi emphasized the critical need for start-ups in agriculture to address farmers' problems.
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The event witnessed a convergence of various stakeholders, including representatives from state governments, the banking community, investors, and start-ups, who came together to witness the launch of AgriSURE, a blended capital fund for start-ups and rural enterprises, which is a first-of-its-kind product in the Indian agricultural start-up ecosystem. With the introduction of the AgriSURE fund, the government aims to further boost investments in the agriculture sector, empowering farmers and driving the rural economy through accessible and affordable innovative solutions.
