Agri Innovation Event 2.0 Organized by Sadhguru's Soil Conservation Campaign Gathers More Than 5,000 Individuals
Save Soil Movement and SRM Institute Host Agri Start-Up Festival 2.0
The Save Soil Movement, in collaboration with the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), hosted the Agri Start-Up Festival 2.0 on August 17 at the SRM University campus in Kattankulathur, Chennai. The event aimed to empower participants with entrepreneurial skills to build profitable and sustainable agriculture-based businesses.
The festival was graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Swami Srimukha, Coordinator of the Save Soil Movement, Hari Krishnan, General Manager of NABARD, Narendra Kumar, Executive Vice President of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, and Selvam Neeravi, Joint Director of the Central Agricultural Extension Office.
The Save Soil Movement, initiated by Sadhguru, focuses on addressing soil health and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. SRM University supports these efforts by providing space, financial assistance, and training for up to two and a half years to agri-startups and entrepreneurs.
NABARD offers financial support via loans and credit facilities tailored for farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and agribusiness ventures. They also provide capacity building and training programs, infrastructure support, and promote agri-startups through incubation centers and entrepreneurship development programs.
The Agri Start-Up Festival 2.0 offered a unique platform for participants to learn directly from experienced practitioners and explore pathways for building resilient agri-businesses. The event was live-streamed, enabling hundreds more to engage virtually.
Professor C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice-Chancellor of SRM University, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to nurturing aspiring agri-entrepreneurs. SRM University runs an Agricultural Science College in Achirapakkam and offers space and financial assistance to those starting agri-based businesses.
NABARD is also collaborating with Isha's Save Soil Movement to strengthen agri-business ecosystems across the region. They also support rural small-scale entrepreneurs and women in South Tamil Nadu through the Madurai Agri-Business Incubation Forum (MABIF).
The event drew over 5,000 participants, including farmers, homemakers, and youth aspiring to build careers in agriculture-based businesses. After the event, Sadhguru presented the Save Soil Policy Handbook to the Prime Minister, a document offering practical, scientific solutions for addressing soil health and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
[1] Save Soil Movement (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.save soil.org/ [3] SRM Institute of Science and Technology (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.srmist.edu.in/ [5] NABARD (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nabard.org/
