‘RICH’ technology awaits State farmers

Targets to benefit 50,000- one lakh farmers over two years

A tinkering lab for farmers is one of the projects the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) will establish as part of an emphasis on pushing technologies from laboratories to farmland.

Tissue culture lab, aquaponics, vertical farming unit, green houses for biotechnology research, farm machinery demonstrations as well as plots for incubatees are among the facilities planned at the Agri Tech Park, for which various locations are under consideration. “I don't think it will cost us more than ₹20-25 crore,” RICH Director General Ajit Rangnekar said.

Funding

It already has an informal funding commitment from the Centre, he said, adding the land for the project would be sought from the Telangana government. About 70-75 acres is the estimated requirement for the project that will serve as a forum showcasing technologies from various institutions to farmers. The idea is to create a facility that will serve as a hub for farmers to learn more about the technologies and get an opportunity to work on them.

Six-member team

Besides agri-tech park, RICH, a government of Telangana initiative and made up of a lean, six-member team, has lined up a host of other projects to pursue as it steps into second year. These include a Regulatory Guidance Cell; Advisory Boards; CEO Circles; Finishing School; collaboration with international like-minded institutions, and creating a directory of resources.

Mr. Rangnekar was speaking on Saturday at an event to celebrate the first anniversary of RICH, a programme in which IT and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao and various stakeholders participated.

In an interaction with media, he said the Agritech park is expected to be ready well ahead of the 2nd anniversary of RICH. On the target beneficiaries, he said through farmer cooperatives and start-ups, they would be identified. The target is to benefit 50,000-1 lakh farmers over two years.

On the other programmes planned, he said for the regulatory cell it would work with the Centre and the State government. It is planned to support start-ups, especially those in the areas of food and pharma.

In the first year, RICH hand-held 25 start-ups working in various areas and proposed to do twice as much in the coming year.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Rama Rao assured government support for RICH, including in terms of resources, as it gears up to scale up operations.