Introduction to

AGRI
Entrepreneurship
SUBMITTED
BY K R I S H N A WA G H
NANDANA NAIR
Entrepreneurship refers to the ability to take big risks to make profit, to succeed, to manage, and
organize a new business.
Entrepreneurship development results in
empoyement
Generate income
Reduce poverty
Improve nutrition, health and overall food security in the national economy
Agribusiness
Refers to marketing and manufacturing of various agricultural products and production inputs.
Farmers must work not as a group but as joint stock company
Concept of agribusiness:
Support farmers or group of farmers
Support agricultural industry by improving production mrethods
Improve the use of technology
Providing environment and market information
Business improved by involving the socio-technical network of Agriculture in the process
Entrepreneurship
Defined as a process by which an agent manages to visualize and implement an idea, belief,
service, product or activity.
Results in:
Employment
Competitiveness
Ability to exploit any sector or business
It is a viable approach to upward mobility
Leads to creation of assets
Agri- Entrepreneurship
Need and Importance
Agriculture sector is relatively more effective than any other sector in reducing poverty.
 Entrepreneurship in agriculture is the formation of new type pf economic organization to grow
under conditions of risk and uncertainty in agriculture.
Importance in the country’s economy:
Helps smallholders achieve productivity and connect them to local, national and international
markets
Reduce food cost and provide a quality diet to the rural and urban poor
Accelerates growth, diversifies income and develops business opportunities in rural and urban
areas
 Entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurial Qualities competencies
Confident, creative, Initiative, ambition,problem
Determined, Innovative, solving, critical thinking,taking risk,
competitive, High Energy, flexible and adaptable,networking,
interpersonal skills
Positive, Motivated,
Goal-driven
Qualities and
competencies
Managerial
competencies Technical competencies
Diagnosing, planning, Managing inputs, managing
organizing, controlling, production, managing marketing
evaluating, leading
 Organizing Creative and
and imaginative Flexible and
management adaptable
skill
Aptitude to
Visionary
learn

Honest Innovative

Characteristics
Confident of AGRI- Determined
and leader
ENTRPRENEU to take risk

R
Strategy Goal
competency oriented

Proactive in
opportunity Experienced
finding
Problem
Hard work
solver
Dynamic
Opportunities for business in
Agriculture
•Agricultural product processing units
•Agricultural product manufacturing units
•Agricultural input production and marketing units
•Agricultural service centres
Case study:

Background
• Chandranna is a small farmer from Tumkurlahalli, a village in Molakalmuru Taluk, Chitradurga District.
• The village has poor agricultural conditions: shallow red sandy soils, low rainfall (less than 500 mm annually),
and declining crop yields due to monocropping (mainly groundnut).
• Majority of farmers depend on wage labor and agriculture, with frequent migration of men for work.

Chandranna’s Journey
• Came from a poor farming family and inherited 3 acres of dryland (1 acre was uncultivable wasteland).
• Joined a Self-Help Group (SHG) under the Karnataka Watershed Development (KAWAD) project, but the first
SHG failed.
• Reorganized the group into ‘Shri Bedara Kannappa SHG’ with 15 members and became responsible for
records.
 Turning Point – Introduction to Vermicomposting
•Attended nursery-raising training at BAIF Institute of Rural Development (BIRD-K), where he became interested in
vermicomposting.
•Initially experimented with earthworms in coconut shells, which failed.
•Built four vermicomposting pits in 2003 under the KAWAD project and bought 2 kg of earthworms for Rs. 300.
•First success: Produced 20 quintals (q.) of vermicompost, applied it to ragi crop, and got 14 q. yield.

 Growth and Expansion

•2004: Applied 6 q. vermicompost + FYM + DAP on groundnut crop, increasing yield to 9 q.
•2005: Started large-scale vermicomposting after exposure visits and training under AME Foundation.
•Experimented with various organic farming techniques (summer ploughing, bio-agents, intercropping, gypsum
application, etc.), resulting in record-breaking groundnut yield (6.5 q. per acre).
 Financial Success in Vermicomposting
•2004: Earned Rs. 26,100 from selling earthworms (124 kg) and vermicompost (15 q.).
•2005: Earned Rs. 53,200, with 278 kg of earthworms and 23 q. vermicompost sold.
•2006: Earned Rs. 58,750 even during drought conditions.
•Total earnings (2003-2006): Rs. 1.4 lakhs, significantly higher than the region’s average farmer income
(~Rs. 15,000 per year).

Impact and Recognition

•Became widely known as ‘Vermicompost Chandranna’, replacing his earlier nickname ‘Nursery
Chandranna.’
•Inspired 48 farmers (officially recognized) to take up vermicomposting, with many more unaccounted for.
•Offers discounted prices for SHGs and provides after-sales support by checking earthworm survival.
•Turned his modest house into a cement-structured home, and his village into a model farming
community.
Types of Enterprises
Farm-level producers

Service Providers

Producers of Inputs

Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products

Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises
Micro-enterprises: 1-9 individuals
Small enterprises: 10-49 staff members
Medium enterprises: 50- 250 members
Farmers in rural can rival larger companies by establishing a local production system (LPS) that
manage significant volumes of local agricultural produce.
Value added Agri-business
New possibilities for agricultural entrepreneurs have arisen as a result of consume preferences for
locally produced and value-added agricultural items
Value-added agricultural ventures include technical services, rental of farming equipment,
agritourism, forest products, and community supported agriculture.
Opportunites:
agricultural enterprises typically generate more income compared to non-agricultural businesses
consumer demand for locally grown and organic crops
 profit from consumers in developed nations who are prepared to pay higher prices for products
they associate with sustainability
Challenges :
insufficient market knowledge and resources
infrastructure and institutional obstacles.
Scope for Agri-Entrepreneurship
in India
Diverse Agricultural Potential: Growing Demand for Biotechnology in Agriculture:
India's varied climatic Agricultural Inputs: Enhances seed production,
conditions support the Increased need for feed, biopesticides, and microbial
cultivation of temperate, synthetic fertilizers, and applications for various
subtropical, and tropical crops. biofertilizers. products.

Export Opportunities: Aquaculture Growth:

Livestock and Forest
Potential to expand global Wide coastline and inland Resources:
trade in raw and processed water bodies support marine
agricultural products, with a Opportunities in meat, milk,
and inland fish farming;
focus on secondary and poultry, and forest-based
ornamental fish cultivation is
tertiary processing. products.
rising.
Beekeeping & Mushroom Organic Farming:
Production: Biopesticides Market:
High potential due to lower Growing scope for crop
Potential for increased pesticide and inorganic protection solutions.
domestic use and exports. fertilizer use.

Advanced Agricultural Agricultural Extension

Techniques: Services:
Greenhouse Cultivation:
Seeds, hybrids, GM crops, Vegetables and flowers for Need for skilled
micro-irrigation, and labor- export markets. professionals to support
saving tools are essential farmers amid declining
for future farming. state resources.

Employment
Opportunities:
Growth in marketing,
transportation, cold
storage, credit, insurance,
and logistics sectors.
Barriers to Agri-
Entrepreneurship Development
Subsistence Most farmers focus on survival rather than business due to a lack
Farming: of knowledge, funding, technology, and market access.

Lack of Farmers are unaware of available services, and free government

Awareness: services discourage the use of paid advisory services.

Limited Market Farmers struggle with reservations for FIEs, communication with
Access: marketing agencies, suppliers, and research facilities.

Legal and Complex legal barriers and unfair competition from private
Regulatory businesses.
Challenges:
Financial Risks: Large investments and modern technology adoption pose risks, reducing
farmer interest.

Changing Market Entrepreneurs face shifts in consumption, distribution, and emerging

Dynamics: technologies.

Production- Disparities exist between where products are grown, processed, and
Processing- consumed.
Consumption
Gap:
High Risk & Climate change, market fluctuations, and economic instability affect
Uncertainty: decision-making.

Technological Need for modern technology to improve efficiency and profitability.

and Innovation
Gaps:
Geographical & Farm size, topography, rising costs, poverty, and
Environmental
Barriers:
environmental degradation impact business sustainability.
Financial High startup costs and difficulty obtaining credit hinder
Constraints:
new agricultural businesses.
Multinational Foreign corporations with relaxed FDI regulations dominate
Competition:
markets, limiting local enterprise growth.
Gender Women face inequalities in accessing agricultural business
Discrimination:
opportunities.
Export-Oriented Favoring exports over local supply worsens poverty and
Economy:
food insecurity in rural areas.
Motivation for Agribusiness
Start-UPs
Income Enhancement: Agribusiness helps increase household income and involves
family members in farming.
Livelihood Opportunity: Provides employment for individuals lacking other
professions.
Utilization of Unique Resources: Entrepreneurs leverage distinctive resources for a
competitive market edge.
Economic Sustainability: Smallholders remain viable by scaling up operations and
producing value-added products.
Product Differentiation: Unique and high-quality products attract consumers and
ensure profitability.
Training and Education
Programme for Agribusiness
Agricultural Clinics and Farm Business Centers (AC & ABC):
Launched in 2002 to support agricultural professionals in starting
businesses and providing advisory services.
Training for Agricultural Graduates: Free specialized training in
entrepreneurship and business management.

Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), Hyderabad:

Conducts a two-month training program.
Other agencies and programs
NABARD: Supports agriculture, small-scale industries, and rural
development.
ATMAS: District-level agencies that provide extension services through
Public-Private Partnerships.
Panchayatmandi (Agri-Mandi): Reduces the role of middlemen in agricultural
trade.
State Agricultural Marketing Banks (SAMBs): Monitors food and oilseed
markets in urban areas.
NCOSAMB: Manages government-funded agricultural training programs.
State Trading Corporation (STC): Handles large international agricultural trade transactions.

Farmers Markets: Initiatives like Uzhavar Santhai, Rythu Bazaars, and Apna Mandi promote direct
farmer-to-consumer trade.
DEMIC: Provides marketing intelligence and commodity price forecasts.

ABARD (Kerala Agricultural University): Offers technological training for rural employment.

Pasumai Padai (Pondicherry Government): Provides agricultural machinery rental services.

Wine Growers Association, Maharashtra: Supports grape producers in international trade.

ITC e-Choupal: Offers weather, price information, and business knowledge to farmers.

Agribusiness Incubators (ABI): Collaboration between ICRISAT and DST to support agribusiness startups.
Successful Agri-
Entrepreneurship Cases
Apple Planet Agri-Clinics (Mr. Bukhari, J&K)
Completed AC & ABC training at ISAP, Srinagar (2012).
Established an agricultural clinic to support apple farmers.
Provides advisory services on pesticides, fertilizers, and crop management.
Formed an association of 500 farmers under "Agro-Clinics of Apple Planet."
Ocean Foods (Shri Uday Veer Singh Rana, Haryana)
Completed AC & ABC training at ISAP, Haryana.
Started a honey processing business with scientific techniques.
Built a well-equipped facility for bottling, packing, and labeling.
Achieved Rs. 15 lakh net profit and Rs. 80 lakh in total sales in the first year.
Xcell Breeding and Livestock Services Pvt. Ltd (Dr. Gajendrakumar Bamania, Gujarat)

Veterinarian with a Master's in International Agribusiness.

Expanded veterinary services in rural areas.

Established a livestock services firm with a laboratory and software for dairy processing.

Offers artificial breeding products, livestock procurement, counseling, and sales.

Mobile Agriculture School and Services (MASS) (Shri Vijay Bharath, Jharkhand & Bihar)

Trained at the Society for Rural Industrialization.

Created a mobile bus service equipped with audiovisual tools for agricultural education.

Delivers modern farming knowledge, seeds, fertilizers, and market data to remote farmers.
Thank you