Interviews

Entrepreneurial Development through Agri-Incubation

 

Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin has setup a Business Planning dna Development Unit (BPD Unit). This unit is an Agri-Business Incubator providing 'one-stop-shop solution' to meet all business needs of an Entrepreneur in food processing and packaging sector. Supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the World Bank aided National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP), BPD Unit helps entrepreneurs access technologies and expertise available at agricultural institutes in southern India.

BPD Unit has access to technologies waiting to be commercialized at member agricultural institutes in southern India. Technologies and expertise from these institutes are being offered to the entrepreneurs. Once a business idea and technology is chosen, BPD unit assist entrepreneurs from developing a business plan for their venture, pilot production and test marketing of products.

For the under privileged, an incubator that can accommodate 9 ventures at a time will be offered at CIFT to help business plan reach a stage of viability for it to be run independently. Apart from Technical Guidance, BPD Unit also extends legal, trademark, certifications, accreditations, export and marketing support for agribusiness.

Technology transfer is made available for Retort Pouching, Extrusion, Battering & Breading, Curing & Drying, Canning and Sausages.

BPD Unit also offers quality control tests at NABL accredited laboratory. Incubation facility for 9 ventures will have furnished A/C office space, conference facility with LCD projection, library, laboratory, Internet and communication facility.

To know more, log on to www.agriincubator.com

SMEWORLD presents a brief interaction with BPD Unit of CIFT, Cochin.

What is the main aim of Agriincubator? What are your thrust areas? How do you intend to do effective intervention and cause positive change?

Our main aim is to nurture agri-business ventures across India. The Agri-Incubator by BPD Unit will help entrepreneurs in commercializing potential technologies developed by 22 ICAR [Indian Council of Agricultural Research] in south India.

Our thrust area is Fisheries as we are based at CIFT [Central Institute of Fisheries Technology]. We are also closely working with all ICAR institutes in south India in varied agricultural allied areas.

Our effective intervention is to make technologies and expertise available at our research institutes available to a large enterprising public. We believe this intervention will have multitude benefits – farmers will have better price realization making agriculture more viable, research institutes will start generating revenue showing them a path towards self-sustainability, employment generation and better trade and commerce.

Please briefly run us through your incubation process.

We can incubate 9 ventures at a time. More firms / iniduals can enroll as incubatees by paying a nominal fee. Incubated ventures will be provided a fully furnished office space with access to scientists, pilot plants for production, laboratory, library, conference room and communication facilities (on paid basis which is nominal). Virtual incubates will not be offered any of the physical infrastructure.

BPD Unit will handhold incubated ventures though a professional process to make them a sustainable venture graduated to a premise of their own. Key aspects that we cover are,

1.  Market Research
2.  Networking
3.  Training
4.  Mentorship
5.  Seed Capital
6.  Business Plan
7.  Test Marketing
8.  Venture Capital

What is the role of government (central, state or both) in the scheme of things?

BPD Unit is supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the World Bank aided National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP). We are mandated by them to promote 'Agripreneurs' with the help of the vast R&D facilities available with ICAR.

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