J&K has potential to become hub of agri-tech startups: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Srinagar, Nov 10 (KNN) Jammu and Kashmir has a huge potential of becoming the hub of agri-tech startups and technology can add value to the products from the region with its immense biodiversity, said Union minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday.

He was inaugurating the three-day ‘Kashmir Expo Start-up for Livelihood’ at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.

The expo is being organized under the aegis of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in association with National Innovation Foundation-India. In this three-day exhibition, youth who have started with innovation in various fields will also come to display their products, technology, and services.

“Sectors like agriculture, biomedical engineering, telemedicine can become the prime focus areas for startups in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K),” Singh said.

He added that it is pertinent to inspire entrepreneurial brains by making the youth aware of the government support available to them based on their talent so that they can generate their own earning opportunities and become job-creators.

“Bamboo grown in the state can be converted to several useful products including incense sticks (agarbatti), while the shelf life of fruits like apples and strawberries can be increased with innovative technologies”, he added.

The inauguration of the three-day event, which is the first-ever startup expo organised in Kashmir Valley, was attended by a large number of vice-chancellors, educators, entrepreneurs, government officials, scientists, and other stakeholders and can go a long way to encourage youth towards a vibrant startup culture in the Union territory, the press release said.

“Since the launch of the ‘Startup India’ initiative by the Prime Minister on January 16, 2016, the Indian ecosystem has grown to become the 3rd largest in the world. The 30 States and UTs with their own dedicated startup policies can go a long way to take the country to new heights,” Singh stressed.

The minister pointed out that J&K’s startup policy focuses on encouraging women-led startups by offering unique incentives, establishing a complete complaint-handling system for startups, and creating entrepreneurial knowledge cells at higher education institutions to foster the entrepreneurial spirit and assist student entrepreneurs and these steps can help boost the startup movement and increase the number of startups in the UT.

The minister also visited the exhibition showcasing a number of innovations at the Kashmir Expo.  (KNN Bureau)