Kerala Launches AgriNext to Integrate Farmers with Startup Ecosystem

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has announced a new project, AgriNext, aimed at connecting the state’s farming community with the startup ecosystem. The initiative is expected to benefit farmers, startups, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

AgriNext is part of the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri Value Chain Modernisation Project (KERA), a programme led by the Department of Agriculture with support from the World Bank. The project aims to boost growth in the farm sector and encourage climate-resilient farming practices.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), farmers, FPOs, agricultural experts, and entrepreneurs can identify key challenges in agriculture and share them with startups. Startups capable of addressing these problems can develop solutions, and research institutions, agricultural universities, and other organisations will also be able to collaborate with the AgriNext project.

The government has stated that only startups offering innovative ideas or technologies to solve farming-related issues are eligible to apply. The technologies must benefit both farmers and entrepreneurs involved in value-added agricultural products. Applications will be accepted through the KSUM online portal, and selected startups will receive incubation support from the KSUM Project Implementation Unit. Each chosen startup will be awarded a grant of Rs 25 lakh.

The Startup Component of KERA - designed to set up an Agri-Tech Incubation Facility in partnership with KSUM - is a key part of the project. It aims to identify 150 major agricultural challenges within the next five years and help startups create new technologies, products, and ideas to solve them.

"This initiative is expected to directly benefit around 40,000 farmers in Kerala," the CMO added