Empowering entrepreneurship and business development throughAgroforestry Business Incubator –Acase study

Abstract

Agroforestry has received increased attention on account of its multiple roles in providing wood and wood products both for domestic and industrial utility besides functioning as a potential land use system contributing to climate change mitigation and
adaptation. Though agroforestry has been practised since time immemorial, it witnessed wide range of challenges in the production consumption system which limit the large scale promotion of agroforestry. Among several challenges, lack of agroforestry technologies leveraging business development is the growing issue which demanded suitable intervention. Accordingly, an exclusive Agroforestry Business Incubator was conceived and established at the Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam to create a business ecosystem through agroforestry technological support. This incubator has been
incorporated as a Section 8 company and established an institutional pattern. It has enrolled over 100 incubates representing students, start-ups, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), limited companies and MNCs who are involved in technological innovations in forestry and agroforestry sectors leading to business development. The incubator includes
over 10 different proven technologies which are extended to incubate for establishing new business ventures. It has created administrative and co-working space along with state-ofthe-art laboratory and industrial facilities which cater to the support services of the incubates. Besides, the incubator extends services like collaborative R&D, financial support, market linkage, capacity building, consultancy and extends all mentoring support not only to create start-ups and MSMEs but also help expand existing business setup and economies. In a holistic perspective, this agroforestry business incubator with all its facilities and infrastructure could act as a pioneering model institution in Forestry and Agroforestry sector and extend a greater scope for adoption and replication in the entire country.