Workshop Title: One-Day Sensitization Workshop on Entrepreneurship Development Among Agri-Graduates

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Guest- Shri SS Bajaj (Chief guest) – DG CCOST Raipur CG
Sh. AKHILESH TRIPATHI, SCIENTIST D, CCOST.
Dr. Girish Chandel ( Chairman)- Honable vice chancellor (IGKV)
Dr. VK Tripathi ( DRS)
Dr. GK DAS ( DEAN , COA, Raipur)
Dr. VK Pandey ( DEAN , Faculty of Engineering)
Dr. Sanjay Sharma ( DSW , IGKV)
**Welcome Address by Dr. SK Joshi :**
– Dr. SK Joshi, the Organizing Secretary, emphasized the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in agriculture. He highlighted its transformative power in turning ideas into reality, fostering innovation, and addressing global challenges such as poverty and climate change.
**Lamp Lighting Ceremony:**
– Following Dr. SK Joshi’s welcome address, the event featured a symbolic lamp lighting ceremony, signifying the illumination of opportunities for agri-graduates in the entrepreneurial landscape.
**Address by Chief Guest Mr. S.S. Bajaj:**
– Mr. S.S. Bajaj, our esteemed Chief Guest, delivered an enlightening address on entrepreneurship. He framed entrepreneurship as the fusion of innovation and incubation, citing Uttarkashi’s success with indigenous technology in labor rescue. Acknowledging Indian ingenuity, he outlined the pillars of entrepreneurial development: motivation, innovation, and incubation. Highlighting the nutritional boom in millets, he urged entrepreneurs to tap into this emerging opportunity.Mr. Bajaj emphasized the strategic role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in achieving economic benefits through innovation. Addressing the pressing issue of climate change, he advocated for sustainability, both economically and ecologically, in product innovation. In a rallying call, he motivated participants to leverage science and technology for national welfare, navigating the competitive landscape with a spirit of innovation. As Mr. Bajaj concluded, he left the audience with a profound reminder that entrepreneurial endeavors must not only be economically viable but also ecologically sustainable. The participants were encouraged to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys with a sense of purpose, utilizing science and technology for the greater welfare of the nation.

**Address by Chairman Honorable Vice-Chancellor Dr. Girish Chandel :**
Expressing gratitude to Mr. S.S. Bajaj for his guidance, Dr. Girish Chandel emphasized the pivotal role of young minds as the foundation of a country’s growth. Advocating for business courses in agricultural studies, he highlighted the post-COVID opportunity for agri-graduates. With households allocating 20% of total expenditure to health and nutrition-related products, he encouraged entrepreneurial ventures in this domain. Dr. Chandel underscored Chhattisgarh’s diverse agricultural landscape, particularly in rice, and highlighted the market potential of immunoboosting processed products. Concluding, he extended appreciation to CCOST for collaboration, fostering a collaborative spirit for the success of the program.
**Vote of Thanks by Praveen Verma:**(1st session)
– Praveen Verma extended gratitude to participants, speakers, and organizers for the success of the session, emphasizing the importance of carrying the gained insights into the entrepreneurial journey.
Workshop Session (2nd session)
**Address by Dr. Hulas Pathak, CEO of IGKV R-ABI :**
Dr. Hulas Pathak delivered an insightful lecture covering the history of startups, the global startup ecosystem, and the evolution of startups in India. He highlighted the impact of pre-liberalization policies on the means of production, leading to the era of liberalization in 1991. Dr. Pathak discussed the rapid growth of the IT sector from the 1980s to 2000, citing examples of Indian giants like TCS and Infosys. He emphasized the post-2010 startup boom, positioning India as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally.Addressing digital adoption, Dr. Pathak underscored India’s prominent global position and highlighted the world’s largest Digital Identity Programme, benefitting 1.2 billion people. Stressing the importance of disruption, he cited improvements in home delivery systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Pathak advocated for startups to be affordable, accessible, and focused on developmental phases.Turning to agriculture startups like Ninjakart, De-Haat, and CropIn, he emphasized the crucial role of technology in innovation. Dr. Pathak concluded by spotlighting IGKV R-ABI, established in 2018-19, as Chhattisgarh’s sole incubation center. He outlined R-ABI’s goal to become central India’s premier hub for business incubation, highlighting flagship programs ABHINAV and UDBHAV. Notably, R-ABI has supported 236 startups, developed 800 products, and disbursed a grant of 10.34 crore rupees, with a special focus on empowering women entrepreneurs—over 50 of whom have benefited from the IGKV R-ABI program.
**Address by Shri Prakash Markale:**
Shri Prakash Markale, highlighted role of CITCON, as a technical consultant organization with the mission to guide entrepreneurs comprehensively. Emphasizing self-awareness, he stressed the significance of focus and confidence as keys to entrepreneurial success. Shri Markale delineated the entrepreneur’s multifaceted role as an organizer, motivator, innovator, and risk-taker.He underscored the importance of preliminary market research and the necessity of feedback before launching any startup product, emphasizing their pivotal roles in ensuring product success.

Address by Kuldeep Patel (Young Entrepreneur and Founder of Fasal Bazar):**
The young entrepreneur, a graduate in agriculture and founder of Fasal Bazar Mr. Kuldeep Patel shared insights into his startup journey. He mention that the Fasal Bazar launched in 2018, Fasal Bazar serves as a platform where farmers directly list their products for sale, eliminating middleman commissions. This not only enhances farmer income but also provides cost savings for consumers. The entrepreneur highlighted Fasal Bazar’s comprehensive services to farmers and their participation in the ABHINAV program, which significantly aided their startup growth in 2019. During the challenges posed by COVID-19, they facilitated home deliveries to over 10,000 households in Raipur city, and their Fasal Bazar application now engages with more than 100,000 families.
**Conclusion and Certificate Distribution (2:00 pm – 2:30 pm):**
The program concluded with the distribution of certificates to all participants, acknowledging their active engagement and commitment. This symbolic gesture recognized the collective effort and dedication of the attendees in enhancing their understanding of entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.