Global conference on agri-business in Delhi from Feb 6 to 8

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Farmers, agri companies and policy makers will share experiences of the latest in the farm sector of various countries at a three-day international conference to be held here early next month. Agri experts and entrepreneurs from over 12 countries, mostly from the Africa continent, would interact with Indian farmers, traders and policy makers at the '2nd Global Agri-business Incubation Conference' to be held from February 6 to 8. The meet is hosted jointly by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Hyderabad-based International Crop Research Institute for the Semi arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and ICAR's National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP). The conference aims at promoting the concept of developing agri-business and entrepreneurship in agriculture sector by sharing experiences of different countries, ICRISAT Director General William D Dar and ICAR chief S Ayyapan said. They added so far representatives from nearly a dozen countries including South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Malaysia, have confirmed their participation. Ayyappan said the occasion would enrich knowledge of Indian farmers, agri companies, government and allied agencies and agricultural research institutions. Dar said the occasion would help promote South-South Cooperation in the field of agriculture. "India as a global leader could help African nations in upgrading their farm technology", Dar said. The conference looks at how entrepreneurship can be the focal point in developing strategies to address the many challenges faced by agricultural sector. These range from climate changes and depleting natural resources to how returns and migration of rural youth from agriculture to other areas would decongest the farm sector. "Agri-business incubators play a vital role in supporting such agri start-ups by taking care of risks in the initial years, providing much needed scientific, financial and infrastructural assistance and equipping the start-ups to stand on their own in the market", Dar said. PTI