JORHAT, May 15 - A few agri entrepreneurs of the North East Agriculture Technology Entrepreneurs Hub (NEATEHUB), an Atal Incubation Centre at Assam Agricultural University Incubator at AAU, Borbheta, have shown their ability to innovate and stay in business despite the lockdown.
A young entrepreneur, Alok Hazarika � an incubatee at NEATEHUB � is supplying a whopping 3,500 kg of fresh vegetables daily to Guwahati and Jorhat. Alok�s start-up Mohabaahu Fresh started receiving orders online through mobile-apps and portal, said NEATEHUB official Nibir Akash Baruah.
Hazarika recently received an order for export of about 20,000 kg of vegetables to Kuwait, the official said, adding that trust and consistent supply of quality vegetables have been Hazarika�s hallmark for success.
Another incubatee of NEATEHUB, Manoj Basumatary, popularly known as the �Pig Man� on social media due to his achievements in pig farming, has supplied quality feed to farmers across Assam dealing with livestock. Basumatary�s start-up Symbiotics Food Pvt Ltd has supplied over 15,000 kg of feed to farmers on a cost-to-cost basis during the lockdown.
Nitin Ronhang, a farmer-turned-entrepreneur from Sonapur, has been ensuring doorstep delivery of vegetables, fruits, and fish in different parts of Guwahati. Ronhang�s products are sold under the brand name Freshdo and he has been selling 500 kg of fruits and vegetables and about 1,000 kg of fish daily. The fruits and vegetables sold by Ronhang are bought from local farmers who produce pesticide-free products which resulted in the goods of Freshdo seeing a rise in demand.
The entrepreneurs are founders of agri-based start-ups and are supported by NEATEHUB through services such as business mentoring, seed funding, marketing support, access to technical experts, physical co-working spaces, etc.
NEATEHUB, established with financial assistance from NITI Aayog, and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Flagship scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR), is one of a kind institute in the North East. At present, the incubator has about 40 active entrepreneurs under its umbrella.
