ICAR-CRRI, Cuttack, Odisha and ICAR-ATARI, Umiam, Meghalaya join hands to Boost Agri-Business Incubation Ecosystem in the Northeast Region of INDIA
The ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, in collaboration with ICAR-ATARI, Umiam, Meghalaya, organized a workshop on “Collaboration Meeting for Strengthening Rural Agri-Business Incubation Initiatives in the Northeast Region” on April 17, 2025.
The event witnessed the gracious presence of Dr. Amulya Mohanty, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Umiam, Meghalaya, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. M.J. Baig, Director, ICAR-CRRI, as the Chairperson of the workshop. The programme was coordinated by Dr. G.A.K. Kumar, Principal Investigator, ABI & VIKAS R-ABI and Head of the Social Science Division at ICAR-CRRI.
The workshop brought together representatives from premier institutes such as ICAR-CHES RC, ICAR-CTCRI RC, ICAR-CIWA, ILS, AIC Nalanda, CSIR-IIMT, and incubated startups under VIKAS R-ABI, ICAR-CRRI. These stakeholders convened to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration and innovation-driven entrepreneurship in the agri-business sector of Northeast India.
Mr. Chinmaya Rout, Business Manager, VIKAS R-ABI, warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, Chairperson, and all attendees to the workshop. Dr. G.A.K. Kumar inaugurated the session by outlining the meeting’s objectives and agenda, highlighting the need to develop a strong incubation ecosystem suited to the unique strengths of the Northeastern region. Dr. A.K. Mohanty emphasized the workshop’s role in fostering a vibrant and sustainable agri-business environment, while Dr. M.J. Baig encouraged startups to actively participate in shaping this ecosystem. In a key presentation, Dr. Mohanty showcased the commercialization potential of the region’s niche products, including Churpi, Orchid, Black Ginger, Black Turmeric, Sohiong fruit, and Blood Fruit, underlining significant opportunities for agri-based innovation and entrepreneurship.
The interactive session witnessed enthusiastic participation from startups and incubators, who shared their expectations and collaborative ideas to further strengthen the initiative. Dr. A.K. Mohanty, during the discussion, highlighted a range of innovative products and technologies developed by startups under VIKAS R-ABI and ABI, ICAR-CRRI, Cuttack, which hold strong potential in the Northeastern market. Emphasizing the region’s consumer preferences and emerging trends, he cited examples such as dry fish and prawn mixtures, fish and animal feed made using Black Soldier Fly (BSF), the Cowbit cattle health monitoring device, and vacuum-fried chips from locally grown vegetables. He encouraged startups to create region-specific solutions aligned with local tastes and cultural values to improve market penetration and impact. The meeting concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. B. Mondal, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CRRI, who appreciated the insightful deliberations and commended the efforts of the ABI and VIKAS R-ABI teams for organizing such a purposeful and impactful workshop focused on rural agri-business development in the Northeastern region.
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