Bill Foundation, Tata Trusts to set up IAIN at IIT-Kanpur

| | Lucknow
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Bill Foundation, Tata Trusts to set up IAIN at IIT-Kanpur

Monday, 08 July 2019 | PNS | Lucknow

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Tata Trusts have joined hands to set up the India Agritech Incubation Network (IAIN) at IIT Kanpur to monitor the Social Alpha Quest for Agritech Innovations.

The IAIN is envisioned as a network of incubators across the country to promote innovations for smallholder farmers.

An investment of more than Rs 100 crore is expected in the next five years and it could increase further.

Uttar Pradesh will benefit the most from this IAIN when it will focus on Purvanchal, specially on three backward districts of Bahraich, Shravasti and Balrampur, to increase the income and agricultural production of small and marginal farmers with innovative technology by introducing new technology and better management, Dr Purvi Mehta, head of Agriculture, Asia, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said.

Experts feel that the change would be observed within the next two years.

The Social Alpha Quest for Agritech Innovations was announced with the aim of enabling an ecosystem for innovators and entrepreneurs to develop farmer-focused technology solutions.

The objective would be to empower small and marginal farmers towards increasing productivity and profitability.

Dr Mehta said, ‘’We deeply appreciate the Uttar Pradesh government’s vision of using technology as a vehicle for the economic development of smallholder farmers. For inclusive agricultural transformation, it is important to align the country’s agriculture innovation, incubation and investment ecosystems with the needs of smallholder agricultural and livestock sectors.”

As part of IAIN, a physical incubator will be set up at IIT-Kanpur to provide incubation services, including specialised laboratory infrastructure, venture-building resources, financial support and farmer community access to help catalyse the lab to last-mile journey.

Over the next five years, the plan is to support 60 enterprises with technology and business incubation that will impact 50,000 farmers.

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