Agri Info

Scheme Guidelines for central sector scheme of Financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’

 The role of infrastructure is crucial for agriculture development and for taking the production dynamics to the next level. It is only through the development of infrastructure, especially at the post harvest stage that the produce can be optimally utilized with opportunity for value addition and fair deal for the farmers.

 The Hon’ble Finance Minister announced on 15.05.2020 Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers. Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Farmers Producer Organizations, Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc.). Impetus for development of farmgate & aggregation point, affordable and financially viable Post Harvest Management infrastructure. 

Around 433.32 LMT wheat procured in the current marketing season RMS 2021-22 so far, against the last year corresponding purchase of 387.66L MT -11.77 % more in comparison to last year’s corresponding period. This is an all time high, said the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said it is too early to assess the impact of delayed monsoon on kharif crops as sowing is still underway.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), southwest monsoon rainfall as whole is less by 5 per cent of the normal rainfall during the period till July 21, Tomar said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. "It is too early to make an assessment of production of kharif crops since sowing is still continuing as sufficient window is still available," he said. The monsoon had set in over Kerala on June 3 against the normal arrival time of June 1, he added.

Indian exporters have signed deals to sell around 4,00,000 tonnes of corn for shipment in June to July to animal feed producers in Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, according to two Singapore-based feed grain traders.

Cheaper corn supplies from India would keep the cost of animal feed lower for consumers of meat and chicken in Asia, who are among the most vulnerable to high food prices.

Benchmark Chicago corn futures have more than doubled since August on rising Chinese demand and declining production in key exporter Brazil. In early May, prices hit their highest since March 2013 at over $7 a bushel. 

GOI-NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPING AND HARNESSING INNOVATIONS (NIDHI)

DST-ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE (EIR)

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship division, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.

NIDHI-Entrepreneur-In-Residence (NIDHI-EIR) 

The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations.

Programme aims:

• To encourage graduating student to take to entrepreneurship by providing support as a fellowship.
• To provide a prestigious forum for deserving and budding entrepreneurs to pursue their ventures without any       additional risks involved in technology based businesses.
• To create, nurture and strengthen a pipeline of entrepreneurs for incubators
• To make pursuing entrepreneurship related to a technology business idea more attractive among options available career options.
• To enable creation of new start-ups by entrepreneurs and significant progress towards raising funding or investment.

 Opportunities under NIDHI-EIR Programme:

• Guidance from experienced, innovative and highly successful entrepreneurs on the business concept, strategy or venture and insight into specific industries or markets.
• Best practices for starting a business and broaden the professional network.
• Co-working spaces for developing the idea into a marketable product. Objectives of NIDHI-EIR Support Programme.

 Eligibility for an NIDHI-EIR support:

• The EIR applicant should be citizen of India. An Indian citizen is defined as one who is in possession of a government approved proof of nationality such as a valid passport, voter’s id etc.
• The EIR applicant should have completed
• Minimum 4 years of formal full time undergraduate/post graduate education towards one or more degree programme. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering (OR)
• 3 years degree or diploma program and have 2 year full time work experience post degree or diploma. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
• NIDHI-EIR recipients are expected to be committed to exploring a business idea.
• NIDHI-EIR seeking the support should demonstrate his ability to build a scalable technology business startup.
• NIDHI-EIR support recipient are expected to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations full time. NIDHI-EIR cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.
• The NIDHI-EIR should be registered for the pre-incubation or incubation program at the TBI for the entire duration of NIDHI-EIR support.

Official website http://www.nidhi-eir.in/index.php