The Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) was organized from June 30 to July 1, 2025, at ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad, with 25 participants from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, startups, private companies, and farmers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana in collaboration with IIOR-SCSP. Dr. R. D. Prasad, PI, NAIF & EDP course Director, extended a warm welcome to the attendees. Dr. R. K. Mathur, Director, ICAR-IIOR, chaired the programme, emphasized the significance of entrepreneurship in agriculture in his inaugural address. Dr. Gopal Lal, Joint Director and Acting Director, ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, graced the EDP programme as the Chief Guest and shared his insights on the entrepreneurial ecosystem and highlighted the available opportunities to the budding entrepreneurs. The Guest of Honour, Dr. S. Senthil Vinayagam, CEO of a-IDEA at ICAR-NAARM, highlighted the entrepreneurial skills essential for initiating new enterprises and discussed strategies for enhancing these skills. The sessions covered various topics, including biopesticides, biofertilizers, soil health management, seed sector opportunities, oil processing, post-harvest technologies, and innovative biopolymer-based seed coating technologies, with insights shared by eminent scientists from ICAR-IIOR. Mr. Mohammed Shahrukh Qureshi, Investment Associate at AgHub, PJTAU, Hyderabad, delivered an expert talk on AgHub and shared his experience in providing handholding support to agri-startups. Mr. P. Mallesh, Chartered Accountant, guided participants on documentation and registration for agri-startups. Dr. Pooja S. Bhatt from a-IDEA, NAARM, shared the available funding opportunities and Sri Bhujanga Rao from NABCONS elaborated on financial support available through NABARD. Participants had a hands-on exposure session on biopesticide production technologies, soil testing methods and oil processing. The participants engaged in insightful discussions with the experts. The valedictory session, graced by Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT & Former DG, ICAR, as Chief Guest, interacted with the EDP participants. Dr. M. Suresh, PI, SCSP, concluded the event with a word of thanks. The programme successfully fostered collaboration, knowledge sharing, and empowerment, laying a strong foundation for agribusiness ventures and sustainable agricultural development. Dr. R. D. Prasad and Dr. M. Suresh acted as Directors for the EDP programme.
https://www.icar-iior.org.in/sites/default/files/2025-07/edp-june30-july1-2025.pdf
