Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD), NABARD and the Government of Goa, successfully organised the Agri Startup Conclave 2025 on Monday at Panjim Gymkhana, bringing together farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, FPOs, academic institutions, incubation centres, government representatives and industry stakeholders to strengthen the agri-startup ecosystem in the State. The event began with the inauguration of the Agri Startup Exhibition, followed by a tour of stalls featuring innovative products and solutions developed by startups and young entrepreneurs from Goa and neighbouring regions. Chief Guest Subhash Shirodkar, Minister for Water Resources, Cooperation & Institute of Public Assistance, stressed the need for modernisation, cooperation and digital integration in agriculture, assuring continued support from the government. A key highlight of the conclave was the formal exchange of an MoU between the Goa College of Agriculture and UAS Dharwad, aimed at deepening collaboration in research, mentorship, incubation and agri-technology adoption. The partnership is expected to enhance capacity building and benefit farmers, students and agripreneurs across the State. GCCI also felicitated the State Agriculture Awardees 2024—Mahesh Matarbhog (Krishi Ratna), Amar Patil (Krishi Vibhushan) and Yogesh Desai (Krishi Bhushan)—for their contributions to sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship. Addressing the gathering, GCCI President Pratima Dhond reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to driving innovation and youth participation in agriculture, while Agriculture Director Sandeep Phaldesai highlighted government efforts to strengthen agri-value chains, FPOs and market access. The post-inaugural sessions featured technical presentations by experts, insights into incubation and funding models, and success stories from Goan agripreneurs including Dr Kurade’s Mushroom, Frugurt, Team-24 and Raika Honey, along with a showcase of promising Krishik-Agri Business Startup ventures. A panel discussion on “Facilitation for Agri Startups,” featuring representatives from the Startup Promotion Cell, ICAR, GIM, BITS Goa, FiiRE and DBCE, emphasised the need for policy support, stronger incubation networks, accessible finance and better market linkages. The conclave concluded with GCCI reaffirming its commitment to continued collaboration with academic institutions, government bodies and incubation centres to support agri startups, promote value-added processing and boost Goa’s agricultural export potential.
