Aroma Mission: Leading Agritech Startup Excellence
EN Team
The Republic Day festivities in the national capital this year captivated audiences with a distinctive tableau, show casing the enchanting lavender farms of Bhaderwah town in Doda District, Jammu and Kashmir. This unique presentation not only glorified the natural beauty of the region but also underscored the crucial contribution of agri startups to achieve the goal of 'Viksit Bharat.' Uinion Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh recently described agri startups as a valuable source of untapped potential in the Himalayan States. Urging the youth to acquire the necessary skills, the Minister observed that the success of the Aroma Mission in Jammu and Kashmir is evidence that the agri tech sector is emerging as a new tech frontier and a significant growth driver for the nation.
Current Startup Landscape and Role of Agritech Startups
There has been a remarkable increase in the number of start-ups from 350 in 2014 to over 1,30,000 startups in the last nine years. The credit for this phenomenal growth is attributed to initiatives like 'StartUp India, StandUp India,' which have given rise to more than 110 Unicorns. The IT sector startup ecosystem is approaching saturation point, paving the way for a tech revolution in the agriculture sector post the Green Revolution. This has led to a steady mushrooming of agritech startups. These startups, armed with cutting-edge technologies, leverage Digital Public Infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, leading to enhanced efficiency and precision in agricultural practices. Innovations such as hyper spectral data analysis and crop mapping are ushering in a new era of productivity and sustainability. Agritech start-ups, surfacing in recent years, are addressing critical challenges such as supply chain management, cooling and refrigeration, seed management and distribution. Additionally, these startups are playing a crucial role in expanding farmers' access to diverse markets, ushering in a new era of technological advancements in agriculture.
Innovation and Agri Entrepreneurship Development Programme
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) in India has been driving a transformative agenda to bolster the agri startup eco-system. Through the "Innovation and Agri Entrepreneurship Development" programme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) since 2018-19, the government aims to foster innovation and agrientre preneurship by providing financial and technical support. This initiative is a significant step towards nurturing a dynamic startup ecosystem in the agricultural sector. Under the scheme, financial assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakh are provided at the idea/pre-seed stage to start-ups and up to Rs. 25 lakh at the seed stage. Five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty-four RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed to incubate startups and implement the programme. These partners play a pivotal role in training and nurturing startups through various stages of development, from ideation to scaling and growth. Moreover, the Government actively organises national-level programmes, including agri-startup conclaves, agricultural fairs, exhibitions, webinars and workshops. These events provide a crucial platform for agri-startups to connect with various stakeholders, fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for growth. Supported agri-startups span a diverse range of sectors, including precision agriculture, farm mechanisation, agri logistics & supply chain, agro-processing & food technology, waste to wealth, organic farming, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries. These startups are leveraging emerging technologies to provide affordable and innovative solutions in agriculture and allied sectors. Under the programme, a commendable financial support of Rs. 106.25 crores has been extended to a total of 1524 agri-startups during the last four years from 2019-20 to 2023-24. So far, hundreds of startups across diverse sectors have received support, contributing to the transformation of the agricultural sector.
Aroma Mission: Leading the Way in Agri-tech Startups
Spearheaded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Aroma Mission is a visionary initiative aimed at promoting the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the perfume industry as well as for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. The multifarious positive socio-economic impacts triggered by the cultivation of lavender in this region have earned it the description 'Purple Revolution'. The Aroma Mission has profoundly impacted farmers and village youths by offering comprehensive support, promoting advanced agricultural practices, disseminating techno-logy and establishing market linkages. Farmers have experienced heightened yields and increased income, while rural youth have gained from skill development opportunities in cultivating and processing aromatic plants. This has paved the way for sustainable livelihoods, contributing to the economic upliftment of rural communities. Additionally, the mission provides appealing startup avenues and those venturing into the aroma sector are finding lucrative opportunities. The Aroma Mission, spanning two completed phases (2016-2019 and 2020-2023), has successfully brought 14,500 hectares of land under aromatic cash crops, specifically targeting rain-fed and degraded land. Moving forward, Phase III of the CSIR-Aroma Mission places a strong emphasis on value addition and product development for farmers. The anticipated outcome is the annual production of an additional 700 tonnes of essential oil, serving industries such as perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This expansion into value-added and herbal pro-ducts is projected to generate a substantial business revenue of at least Rs. 200 crores. The success of Aroma Mission and Lavender cultivation is now spreading its roots to other Himalayan States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Nagaland in the North-East with the government offering handholding support from pro-duct development to marketing, fostering an atmosphere of innovation and risk-taking. While speaking about the budget for agriculture sector, in February 2023, soon after the launch of the Union Budget, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi observed "As revolution is taking place in digital trans-actions, in the same way immense possibilities of investment and innovation are being created in the agritech domain. It has the potential to improve logistics, it has the opportunity to make it easier to reach the mass market, it has the opportunity to promote drip irrigation through technology, as well as our youth can work to deliver the right advice to the right person in time. Private soil testing labs can be set up in the same way as labs work in the medical sector. Our youth can become a bridge of information between the government and the farmer with their innovation. They can tell which crop can be more remunerative. They can use drones to estimate the crop cultivation. They can help in policy making. You can also provide real time information about the changes in the weather at any place. There is a lot for the youth to do in this sector, by actively participating in which they will help the farmers, as well as they will also get an opportunity to move forward. This year's budget has also made an important announcement about the provision of Accelerator Funds for agri-tech startups. We are not only building digital infra-structure, but we are also preparing funding avenues. Now it is the turn of our young entrepreneurs, they should move forward with enthusiasm and achieve their goals." As the Aroma Mission unfolds, it not only harnesses the power of scientific inno-vation but also celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship and community resilience. Through collaborative efforts between government institutions, farmers and startups, the mission paves the way for a sustainable and inclusive future. With determination and vision, the Aroma Mission charts a course toward a fragrant future, where the aroma of success permeates every corner of the nation's agricultural landscape.
Role of CSIR
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) plays a crucial role in facilitating and encouraging agricultural startups by actively engaging in various initiatives aimed at advancing the cultivation, processing and value addition of aromatic plants. Through collaboration with laboratories nationwide, CSIR has been instrumental in the development of high-yielding varieties with low input costs. The organisation's multifaceted approach involves agro-techno logies, outreach programmes and skill development, all geared towards creating income opportunities and employment in rural areas. In addition to expanding the cultivation footprint, CSIR actively facilitates interaction between farmers, scientists and industries, fostering collaboration in what is termed the 'Farmer-Scientist-Industry' tri-angle. By connecting entrepreneurs with innovative technologies, CSIR contributes to the growth of the agri-tech sector and the overall economy. Areas including Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marath wada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and others, often experience weather extremes that significantly contribute to agricultural difficulties and distress, including a high incidence of farmers' suicides. Demonstrating a commitment to help farmers of these region, the government's interventions through the CSIR are strategically designed to bring guaranteed benefits to farmers in such regions. Hence, there is immense potential for agri tech start-ups to gain strong footing in these areas by providing the farmers ways and means to adopt sustainable agriculture, fostering economic growth in the otherwise impoverished villages.
Success Stories
Some of the regions which have witnessed a remarkable success because of the mission are:
1. Jammu and Kashmir
Under the Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu has spear-headed the development of a special lavender variety (RRL-12) and agricultural technology, introducing lavender cultivation to various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Over 1000 farmer families are now cultivating lavender across more than 200 acres, generating employment for thousands and significantly boosting their income. Through skill development programmes, over 2500 farmers and entrepreneurs have been trained in lavender cultivation, processing and marketing, leading to substantial increases in income. The lavender oil production in the area is 40-60 liters per year. The annual income of lavender farmers has seen a giant increase from Rs. 40,000/- per hectare to about Rs. 6,00,000/- per hectare. Farmers in the Doda district produced 300, 500 and 800 liters of lavender oil in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Under the One District One Product-Districts as Export Hubs (ODOP-DEH) initiative, lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a significant boom. The success of lavender cultivation has not only earned accolades, including the 'CSIR Award for S&T Innovations for Rural Development' but also being replicated in other Himalayan States and the North-East, promising further economic growth and import substitution.
2. Coastal Areas
In response to the challenges faced by coastal areas of Southern India, where cyclones and tsunamis leave the land saturated with salt water, making traditional crops unsuitable, CSIR-CIMAP has identified resilient aroma crops. In tsunami-affected villages like Nochikkadu and Thiyagavalli in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, low-yielding vetiver cultivars were replaced with high-yielding varieties by CSIR-CIMAP, offering the potential for a threefold increase in farmer income. These new cultivars, containing around 1% essential oil in their roots, are being introduced on 20 acres initially, with plans for expansion to at least 500 acres in the coming years. In response to the salinity issues in coastal areas like Kutch and others parts of Gujarat, CSIR-CIMAP has introduced Palmarosa, an essential oil crop known for its tolerance to high salinity. This initiative has garnered wide-spread interest among farmers in regions like Bhuj and Rapar, with hundreds coming forward to cultivate the crop. Through awareness programmes and seed distribution, CSIR-CIMAP has facilitated the cultivation of high-yielding varieties of Palmarosa on over 200 acres, with plans for expansion to 500 acres. This expansion promises livelihood opportunities for thousands of farmers, with the crop currently yielding a net profit of Rs. 60-70 thousand per acre.
3. Bundelkhand and Marath wada Region
Persistent drought in Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region has exacerbated agricultural crises, leading to annual crop failures and severe famines. Similar challenges are observed in Maharashtra's Vidarbha and Marathwada regions due to rain-fed crops' vulnerability to weather fluctuations. To address these issues and sustain farmers' livelihoods, aromatic crops like lemongrass, palmarosa and vetiver, known for their resilience to water scarcity and drought, have been introduced. Initially, these drought-tolerant crops were introduced on 100 acres, aiming to provide planting material for 1000 acres. CSIR's Aroma Mission seeks to offer economically viable alternatives to traditional crops, potentially increasing farmers' income by 40-50%.
Conclusion
The central government has been instrumental in creating a conducive atmosphere for entrepreneurship and industrial development. However, there exists an untapped potential in the agritech sector that could be harnessed through enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors. The government's robust support for rural and semi-urban enterprises serves as a catalyst, motivating the youth to shift away from conventional employment paradigms. This encouragement fosters a proactive engagement in the dynamic exchange of ideas, with a focus on identifying technologies that align with the distinctive agricultural landscape of India. The synergy between government initiatives and private sector innovation opens new avenues for growth and development in the agri tech sector, promising a brighter future for both entrepreneurs and the agricultural ecosystem.
(Compiled by Kaushikee and Sudhit Mishra, Employment News team. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employpmentnews@gmail.com)
Source: PIB, Aroma Mission Website NITI Ayog.