Today in New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled the AgriSURE Scheme, an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming India’s agricultural sector. AgriSURE—Agri Fund for Start-ups & Rural Enterprises—is a groundbreaking fund designed to foster growth and innovation within the agricultural and rural start-up ecosystem. This ₹750 crore blended capital fund, comprising ₹250 crore contributions each from the Government of India, NABARD, and private investors, is set to drive high-risk, high-impact, technology-driven ventures in agriculture.
The launch event was attended by prominent figures, including Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ram Nath Thakur, along with Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi. Key stakeholders from the agricultural community, leading banks, state government officials, and representatives from the Ministry of Finance were also present.
In his keynote speech, Shri Chouhan emphasized the transformative power of the AgriSURE Fund, highlighting it as a continuation of the government’s ongoing efforts to support farmers with cutting-edge technology. “Farmers’ prosperity leads to a prosperous economy,” he stated, underscoring the vital role of agriculture as the backbone of the nation.
Shri Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering farmers, stating, “Our vision is to uplift every farmer, and the AgriSURE Fund reflects our dedication to ensuring increased production, reducing costs, offering remunerative prices, promoting crop diversification, and safeguarding farmers through crop insurance.”
The event also featured the AgriSURE Greenathon Awards, recognizing the most innovative start-ups addressing key challenges in the agricultural value chain. Greensapio, Krushikanti, and Ambronics emerged as the top three winners from over 2,000 participating start-ups. These winners, selected from 10 finalists, received a share of the ₹6 lakh prize pool, along with the opportunity to showcase their ideas to a network of stakeholders for future collaboration.
Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi highlighted the crucial role of start-ups in solving farmers’ problems and advancing agricultural innovation.
The launch of the AgriSURE Fund marks a significant milestone in India’s agricultural landscape, bringing together diverse stakeholders, including state governments, financial institutions, and the start-up community. This first-of-its-kind blended capital fund aims to drive substantial investments in the agriculture sector, empowering farmers, and invigorating the rural economy with accessible and affordable innovative solutions.
