Progressive farmers visit PAU to promote start-ups, entrepreneurship in agri-business
Ludhiana, July 17
A group of young and innovative farmers of Punjab visited the School of Business Studies (SBS) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recently. The visit was a part of the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations NIDHI-TBI Technology Business Incubator project of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It aimed to encourage new ideas, start-ups and entrepreneurship in food processing industry.
The visiting team, including Harmanpreet Singh Jhand, Navtej Singh Hundal, Palwinder Singh, and Gurbinder Singh Bajwa interacted with the PAU team and centred their discussions on innovative approaches to fruits, vegetables and cereal farming and value addition.
Dr Ramandeep Singh, Director of SBS and Principal Investigator-NIDHI-TBI, Punjab Agricultural University, emphasised the critical role of agricultural supply chain innovations in today’s world. He remarked, “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity and not a threat. It is a cornerstone of progress in agri-business, with the power to transform the socio-economic fabric of our nation.” Further, he said, “SBS remains steadfast in its commitment to align with the causes championed by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This visit is a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives forward-looking initiatives in agriculture.”
Harmanpreet Singh Jhand showcased avocado leaf tea, an exemplary product innovation. Both the faculty and the visiting farmers had an opportunity to taste-test this unique product, underscoring the potential of such innovations to revolutionise the agri-business landscape.
In a productive dialogue, the visiting team also engaged with the Apni Kheti mobile app team under the leadership of Hunar Brar for exploring avenues to promote the start-up potential of avocado leaf tea. Additionally, plans were discussed to support the Basmati rice brand start-up envisioned by Navtej Singh Hundal from Verka, Amritsar.
