NIDHI-TBI campaign launched at Kisan Mela to empower rural innovators

With an aim to foster agripreneurship and empower rural communities, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) launched the NIDHI-TBI (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations – Technology Business Incubator) awareness campaign at the Kisan Mela that concluded the day before. The project, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, aims to encourage rural youth and women to explore innovative opportunities in agribusiness, particularly in processing and marketing fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses.

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The campaign was inaugurated by Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, under the leadership of Dr Ramandeep Singh, principal investigator of the NIDHI-TBI project. The initiative aims to inspire young farmers and women to utilise technology and innovation in agriculture, contributing to the state’s economy and creating sustainable employment opportunities.

In his address, Dr Gosal emphasised the importance of nurturing rural innovation and highlighted the entrepreneurial potential within agriculture. He hoped that through NIDHI-TBI, agrarian youth and women would harness technological innovations for a self-reliant and prosperous future.

In collaboration with the NIDHI-TBI team and the School of Business Studies (SBS) faculty, the PAU agri-business team conducted an engaging awareness campaign, drawing significant interest from rural youth. Many participants registered for the project, beginning a promising journey toward agripreneurship.

Dr Ramandeep Singh expressed optimism about the future of agripreneurship in the state, emphasising on the untapped potential in the rural areas. He said the NIDHI-TBI project was focused on building strong agribusiness ventures, particularly in the value chains of fruits, vegetables, cereals and pulses.