TNAU ABIS - Technology Business Incubator, DABD is a GoI - MoA & FW, RKVY - RAFTAAR - R-ABI centre for implementing GoI - RKVY - RAFTAAR - R-ABI programme from 2019 onwards. Under this GoI - RKVY - R-ABI two programmes viz., (i) Agripreneurship Orientation Programme (AOP) for a grant upto 5 lakhs and (ii) Startup Agribusiness Incubation Program (SAIP) for a grant upto 25 lakhs are being conducted from 2019 onwards. The MoA & FW has sanctioned 72 startups with a grant of Rs.8.10 Crores from 2019 onwards through four Cohorts.
The grant disbursement function was held at ABIS - TBI - RABI Centre, DABD, TNAU, Coimbatore on November 25th, 2024. Dr.V.Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU presided over the function and distributed the grant. A grant amount of Rs.34.40 lakhs for 9 SAIP Cohort II Grantees were disbursed as third instalment and Rs.70 lakhs for 10 SAIP Cohort III Grantees were disbursed as second instalment. In total, Rs 1.05 Crores were given to 19 grantees of SAIP cohort II, III, who are all incubatees of TBI, TNAU, Coimbatore.
Dr.V.Geethalakshmi in her presidential speech emphasized the need for retaining the youth in agriculture and to support agri based startups to innovate and implement new technologies for sustainable and profitable agribusiness.
The disbursed grant will be used by the grantees for the development of products and upscaling of their startups in agri and allied ventures.
Dr.E.Somasundaram, Director, ABD welcomed the gathering and Mr.A.V.Gnansambandam, ED & CEO–ABIS, offered the vote of thanks.