ICAR-NOFRI Organized Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Entrepreneurship Development in Sikkim.

ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute (ICAR-NOFRI), Tadong organized a ‘Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Entrepreneurship Development in Sikkim’ on September 05, 2019. A total of 55 officials and farmers participated in the training program.
Chief Guest of the program, Shri Khorlo Bhutia, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Sikkim in his address appreciated the ICAR-NOFRI efforts in organizing the ‘Sensitization Workshop on Agri-Business Entrepreneurship Development in Sikkim’. He said that this kind of efforts will certainly boost the number of entrepreneurs in Sikkim. He mentioned that there are 28 FPOs in Sikkim, which need to work on end to end basis starting from the production, processing to marketing. He also detailed about the various Government schemes and their subsidies available for establishing the entrepreneurs/startups.

Guest of Honour, Shri D.K. Bhandari, Secretary, Department of Horticulture, Government of Sikkim, in his address highlighted the importance of horticultural crops for Agri-Business Entrepreneurship Development. He further said that farmers need to scale up their production to make ground breaking progress.

Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI, in his address highlighted the relevance of this sensitization workshop. He said that ICAR-NOFRI is playing important role in developing organic production technologies in Sikkim. He motivated the participants to learn the organic farming technologies and work with dedication to become successful entrepreneurs. He assured the farmers for facilitating incubation of new startups/entrepreneurs through ABI Sikkim Centre.

Earlier, during Technical Session, Smt. Asha Lama, Director, Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Government of Sikkim also appreciated the ICAR-NOFRI effort in organizing the sensitization workshop. She assured her full support in developing successful entrepreneurs in Sikkim.
Dr. G. Kadirvel, Principal Scientist, ICAR RC NEHR Umiam, Meghalaya and PI, ABI highlighted the importance of this sensitization workshop. He said that ABI Centre of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region envisages facilitating incubation of new startups/entrepreneurs and enterprises for innovative technologies by providing need based physical, technical, business and networking support, facilities and services to test and validate their venture before successful establishment of enterprises.

Dr. S. Ruth Assumi, Scientist (Horticulture) talked on ‘Postharvest Management of Horticultural and Spice crops’, Shri Amitava Mukherjee (Business Manager ABI) detailed on ‘Packaging and Labeling of Agro Products for Commercialization in North East India’, Shri Utpal Banerjee, CEO, North Bengal Floritech shared his experiences that how he became successful entrepreneur. Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) and Member ABI coordinated the sensitization workshop and shared his experiences on potential of horticultural crops for agri-business development in Sikkim and also proposed vote of thanks.

Officers from various line departments viz., MSME, SIMFED, NABARD, SAMETI, Department of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Government of Sikkim also participated in the program and actively interacted with the farmers and shared their schemes. Farmers also brought various products like organic mushrooms, handicraft items, herbal tea and other items to showcase their startups. Shri S.M. Kandwal moderated the program and Mrs Rajeni Pradhan and Mr. Gagan Gurung assisted actively in organizing the program.

Issued by – ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok