Introduction

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is an important scheme of the Government of , under the aegis of Department of Agriculture Cooperation and farmers welfare (DAC & FW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Govt. of india. This scheme aims to promote agripreneurship and agribuisness by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. A new component under the revamped scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) has been launched in 2018-19. RKVY-RAFTAAR supports agribuisness incubation by tapping innovations and technologies for venture creation in agriculture. In this process, incubation facilities and expertise already available with participating academic, technical, management and R&D institution in the country shall be utilized on an individual or collective basis to harness synergies. ICAR-Dr. PDKV has been bestowed with an incubator namely UTKARSH-RABI under this scheme in January 2019.

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, was established on 20th October, 1969 with its head- quarter at Akola. This Agricultural University was named after the illustrious son of Dr. Panjabrao (alias Bhausaheb) Deshmukh, who was the Minister for Agriculture,Govt. of India. The jurisdiction of this university is spread over the eleven districts of Vidarbha. According to the University Act 1983 (of the Government of ), the University is entrusted with the responsibility of agricultural education, research and extension education alongwith breeder and foundation seed programme. The University has its main campus at Akola. The instructional programmes at main campus are spread over in 5 Colleges namely, College of Agriculture, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, College of Forestry, College of Horticulture and Post Graduate Institute. At this campus 4 degree programmes namely B.Sc.(Agri.) B.Sc. (Hort.), B.Sc. (Forestry) and B.Tech. (Ag. Engg.) , two Master’s Degree Programmes viz. M.Sc.(Agri.) and M.Tech. (Agri.Engg.) and Doctoral Degree Programmes in the faculties of Agriculture and Agril. Engineering are offered. The University has its sub-campus at Nagpur with constituent College, College of Agriculture which offers B.Sc.(Agri.) and M.Sc.(Agri.) degree programmes. The Nagpur Campus is accomplished with a garden, surrounded by its natural beauty and a well established Zoo which attract the general public and visitors to the city. A separate botanic Garden is being maintained on 22 hectares with a green house for the benefit of research workers. In addition there are 2 affiliated grant-in-aid colleges and 14 private non-grant-in-aid colleges under the umbrella of this University A Central Research Station is situated at the main Campus which caters to the need of research projects undertaken by Scientists of the principle of the region are , Sorghum, Oilseeds and Pulses.

Agro-ecology of the region This region has been divided into four Zones on the basis of precipitation, number of rainy days, soil group, physiology and cropping system. The zone receiving 700-950 mm. precipitation with less than 52 rain days having vertisols of varying depth has been identified as the Assured Kharif Crop Zone consisting of the districts namely, Buldana, Akola, and a part of Washim district while the districts Yavatmal and Wardha and a part of Nagpur are characterised by its precipitation in the range of 950-1250 mm. , 52-62 rainy days having vertisol soils constituted the Moderate Rainfall Zone. The districts, namely, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli have been categorised as the High Rainfall (1250-1700 mm.) Zone. While hilly tracks of receiving rainfall in the range of 950-1700 mm. have been categorised as Moderate to High Rainfall Zone. The Vidarbha region is endowed with rich forests. The region has an area of 27.5 lakh hectares under forest which accounts for 52per cent of the total forest area of the State and 28per cent of the geographical area of the Vidarbha region.

Cropping Pattern Agriculture in Vidarbha is characterised by dryland farming with 90 per cent of the cultivated area dependent on monsoon. Foodgrains account for about 54 per cent of the gross cropped area. Cotton and are major cash crops of the region having about 28 per cent and 7 per cent area respectively.

Seed Stage Funding (SSF)

Seed Stage Funding (SSF) of RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme provides Grant in aid to Startups. Under this scheme Financial assistance maximum upto ₹ 25 Lakhs will be granted to potential startups that have a minimum viable product (MVP) Based on innovative solutions/processes/products/services/business model in Agriculture and allied sectors. The applicant incubatees would be provided funds as per their genuine requirements and as per appraisal /evaluation of their business plan by the RKVY-RAFTAAR Selection and Monitoring Committee(RC) and the decision of the RC in this regards will be final.

The RC will not be bound to give any reason in case and application is rejected. This support will assist incubatees to launch their products / services/business platforms etc. into the market and help them to scale-up their operations as well as to attain business viability at faster pace. This support will also facilitate them to attract investments from angel/Venture capitalists or taking loan from commercial bank, financial institutions for further scaling up of their business operations.

With respect to above, applications are invited from eligible startups having an innovative idea in technological solutions/processes/products/services/business platform etc and want to start an agribuisness venture for Seed Stage Funding as Grant in aid to startups under RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme at UTKARSH-RABI, Dr.PDKV,Akola.

Eligibility criteria

a) The applicant should be an Indian citizen. b) All incubatees UTKARSH-RABI will be eligible for this funding after completion of Two months training and on the basis of consistent performance evaluated by UTKARSH-RABI Incubation Committee(RIC). c) The recipient should be a registered legal entity in india e.g Partnership firm, limite d liability partnership, Private Limited Company d) The recipient has to be an Indian startup as per department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) notification. This support is not meant for Indian subsidiaries of MNCs/Foreign company. e) A startup once supported by any other RABI will not be eligible to apply for UTKARSH-RABI for subsequent round of seed support.

Selection Process

 The selection of startsups having a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) based on innovative solution /Process/products/services/business models in agriculture and allied sector shall be done by UTKARSHA-RABI Incubation Committee (RIC)  During the selection process UTKARSH-RABI will take into consideration any other grant- in-aid/ funding received by incubatees for the same activity/product from other GOI ministries. A self-declaration from the incubate about such funding will be mandatory  After two months training of incubatees,RIC will evaluate the progress of the incubate and based on their performance recommend them for seed stage funding to RC  RC will further evaluate and recommend the incubatees to the Nodal Division, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) for Seed Stage Funding.  Nodal Division, DAC & FW will approve and sanction the project of the incubatees based on recommendation of RC and release the first installment of the Grant in aid to UTKARSHA-RABI for further dusbursment to the incubatee.  The UTKARSH-RABI would execute a legal aggrement with the incubatee who is selected for the seed support and this agreement should be signed prior to the release of the first installment of Seed Fund to the incubatee. The terms of agreement with incubatee/startup should be framed by the UTKARSH-RABI linking with the progress milestones, monitoring norms etc. Subsequent disbursement schedules should be linked to the achievement of milestones by the incubate.

Funding support

For ensuring dedication of incubate in the programme, 15% on proportionate basis of the project cost will be borne by them. The remaining 85% of the project cost on proportionate basis upto maximum of₹ 25 Lakhs will be borne under RKVY-RAFTAAR Scheme which will be released in Three installment as mentioned below

I. The first installment of 40% of the sanctioned amount for Seed Support will be released after signing of the agreement between UTKARSH-RABI and incubate II. The second installment of 40% will be released to incubate after recommendation of UTKARSH-RABI Incubation committee (RIC) based on their performance and achievement of milestone as well as after utilization of 80% of previously released amount and receipt of fund utilization certificate(UC) of 80% of already released funds. III. The third installment of 20% will be released to incubatee after recommendation of UTKARSH-RABI Incubation Committee (RIC) based on their performance and achievement of milestones as well as after utilization of 80% of previously released amount and receipt of UC of 80% of already released funds.

Startup Incubation Two months training *Upto ₹25 Lakhs Funding

*Subject to final selection by committee.