Innovate Now
7 AGRI START-UPS: DIGGING THE GOLDMINE Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy. However, it is also the largest unorganized sector of our economy. The farming sector presents as many opportunities as it has challenges. I came across many start-ups capitalizing on these opportunities while working for my shows ‘Innovate India’ and ‘Kamyaab Hindustan.’ These are small initiatives but are enough to illustrate the scale of possibilities in our agriculture sector. I also had a chance to meet many specialists who were mentoring these companies. We are all aware of India’s farming distress. However, many innovative minds are finding a way to find solutions. I developed a good rapport with Alay Barah, one of the finest agriculture start-up experts in the country, during my stint with ‘Innovate India’. It is imperative to present his insights on the subject. He has made a special contribution to this book and we will come back to it in a while. Let us first begin with challenges and opportunities in the agriculture sector. The Challenges The farmers are the drivers of the country’s economic progress. The agriculture sector remains the biggest source of employment in the country. The government seems committed to prioritizing agricultural growth, increasing the farmers’ income and rural development. Yet, the plight of India’s farmers is an undeniable fact. The government has not only announced several great and concrete schemes for farmers but also implemented them with zeal.
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