a-IDEA successfully organised the Agri Udaan 8.0 – Food and Agribusiness Accelerator Roadshow at the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), further strengthening the momentum for agri-innovation, startups, and investment in Bihar. The event marked an important step toward building a robust and inclusive agri-entrepreneurship ecosystem in the state.
The roadshow was conducted by a-IDEA, ICAR–National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad, in association with CIMP. It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, investors, agri-scientists, startup founders, and academic representatives, with a shared objective of fostering innovation-led growth in agriculture through mentoring, funding support, and market linkages.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Shri Kumod Kumar, CAO, Director & CEO, CIMP–Business Incubation & Innovation Foundation, who highlighted CIMP’s role in nurturing entrepreneurship and supporting innovation-driven ventures in Bihar.
Dr. Ranjit Kumar, CEO, a-IDEA and Principal Scientist, ICAR–NAARM, outlined the vision, structure, and support framework of Agri Udaan 8.0, emphasizing its focus on scaling promising agri and food startups through access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and industry partnerships.
The Chief Guest, Shri Pankaj Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar, underlined the importance of innovation, technology adoption, and strong market linkages in enhancing farmers’ income and driving sustainable agricultural development in the state.
Special remarks were delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, Director, CIMP; Dr. Indu Shekhar Singh, ICAR–NRC for Makhana; and Shri Lakshman Kumar, DGM, NABARD, who collectively highlighted Bihar’s immense potential across key crops, value-added agriculture, and agri-processing sectors.
The roadshow also featured insights from successful Agri Udaan startups, offering real-world perspectives on scaling agribusiness ventures. Interactive sessions enabled meaningful engagement between innovators, investors, and industry stakeholders, encouraging collaboration and investment-led growth.
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