Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) hosted the Agri Udaan 8.0 Food and Agribusiness Accelerator Roadshow/Start-up Hunt, organised by The Association for Innovation Development of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture (a-IDEA) and ICAR–National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad on 23rd December 2025 (Tuesday) at its CIMP campus.
The inaugural session commenced with the felicitation of all dignitaries with bouquets, followed by the rendition of “Vande-Mataram,” and lighting of lamp. The welcome address was delivered by Shri. Kumod Kumar, CAO, CIMP and Director & CEO, CIMP-BIIF said
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the dignitaries, students, faculty members, and staff for their presence and support. The Agri Udaan – 8.0 Roadshow marks a significant step in empowering agri-startups, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities in the agricultural ecosystem. Together, we are building a future where ideas take flight and transform Indian agriculture.”
The chief guest was Shri Pankaj Kumar, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Bihar. He said
“I reaffirm my strong commitment to the agricultural sector and emphasise the importance of collaboration and the adoption of new technologies to modernise agriculture and generate employment. I deeply appreciate the farmers engaged in makhana, pulses, and other agricultural activities, and I firmly believe that agriculture holds immense potential to create large-scale employment opportunities in Bihar.”
The host and speaker of the event was Dr. Ranjit Kumar, CEO, a-IDEA & Principal Scientist, ICAR-NAARM; Dr. Ranjit said
“This event is not only about disseminating information across the state, but also about helping everyone understand that there is an organisation ready to handhold startups working in this domain. At a-IDEA, we are seeking more applications from across the state.”
The guest of honour were Shri Pankaj Kumar, I.A.S. Principal Secretary Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Bihar, Shri Lakshman Kumar, Dr. Indu Shekhar Singh In-Charge & Principal Scientist, ICAR-NRC for Makhana, Darbhanga,.
Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, Director, CIMP said,
“I want to highlight the importance of revenue generation for startups, with an 80:20 focus on revenue and investment. Branding, marketing, packaging, and the effective use of social media are critical in scaling agri-businesses and attracting investors.”
Nitish Kumar a Founder and CEO of Bhojpatra, Agripreneur Pvt. Ltd., shared his entrepreneurial journey and explained how Agri Udaan supported him through mentorship, networking, and institutional guidance.
Dr. Indu Sekhar Singh from ICAR–NRC for Makhana discussed the growth of the makhana industry in Bihar, noting that Purnia has emerged as a leading hub and that around 35 makhana-based startups are currently operating in the state.
Shri Lakshman Kumar briefly spoke about the objectives of Agri Udaan and the contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP. He emphasized that even small innovative ideas can lead to successful businesses, such as creating new variants of makhana through value addition. He introduced the Catalytic Capital Fund, which has been created to support new startups. Through Rural Incubation Centres, startups can receive investment support of up to one crore rupees along with mentorship.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, felicitation of dignitaries, and the National Anthem, marking the successful completion of Agri Udaan – 8.0.
