Sikkim Agriculture Minister Lok Nath Sharma on Thursday inaugurated a two-day national conference on ‘Agri-Startups: Prospects, Challenges, Technologies, and Strategies (AGRiPACTS – 2022) at Manan Kendra in Gangtok.
The two-day conference will focus on agri-business ecosystems, potential technologies, IPR technologies and commercialisation, challenges faced by ecosystem builders and Agri STARTUPS and convergence among stakeholders, a release stated.
Addressing the inaugural event, Sikkim Agriculture Minister Lok Nath Sharma accentuated the importance of organic farming and initiatives for highest purity standards for creating opportunities and demand for agricultural products from Sikkim to other parts of the country and across the globe.
The minister also highlighted the initiatives taken by the Sikkim government for wide spread marketing opportunities and self-sufficiency achieved in milk production.
Also speaking at the inaugural event, Sikkim University vice chancellor professor Avinash Khare emphasised on branding of agricultural products and processed items from Sikkim for marketing for sustainability and income generation for employment.
P Vaiphei, Manipur additional chief secretary also highlighted the importance of developing entrepreneurs in agriculture particularly in organic products.
"Manipur is also following the steps of Sikkim as an organic state and also trying to enhance the organic agriculture and value additions so as the economy of the farmers and the region are enhanced," Vaiphei said.
Three publications ‘Agri-Business Opportunities in North East India’, ‘Training An Integral Part of Farming’ and ‘AGRiPACTs 2022 Souvenir’ were released on Thursday.
The inaugural event witnessed more than 500 participants from all over the country which includes more than 70 scientists/venture or business experts, more than 75 office bearers/members of Farmers Producers Company/Organisations (FPCs/FPOs), 20 successful Agristartups, more than 120 state officials from all the Northeast region, Representatives from different departments/agencies of such as NABARD, MSME, APEDA, FSSAI, MOMA, SFAC etc. and over 150 students from different agriculture and management institutes also attended the event.
