Recently on 12 November 2021 Ludhiana, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been awarded Agri-Food India Awards, which is the best award for excellence in agri-food business incubators.
Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, and Principal Investigator Punjab Agri-Business Incubation Centre Dr Poonam Sachdev, Head, Dept of Food Science & Technology jointly accepted the award on behalf of PAU from Sh. Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon'ble Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, and the Chief Guest of the event.
NIFTAM, NIAM, ICAR, IIMR, and CFMIIT Budni planned and sponsored the award event at Hotel Royal Plaza in New Delhi (M.P.). Following the award ceremony, Dr Poonam Sachdev stated that – “PAU has two incubators: the Food Industry Business Incubator and the Punjab Agri-Business Incubator, both of which are supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The PAU Food Industry Business Incubation Centre exchanged 41 innovations with 41 different stakeholders, including farmers, growers, start-ups, and small and large businesses.”
Dr. Sachdev said that – “the Punjab Agri-Business Incubator also supported 118 incubates through its Udham and Udaan Programs, receiving financing of 4.08 crores in grant-in-aid for the best 30 PAU Agri Start-ups in our first two cohorts. Now the Punjab Agro Business Incubator is in its third cohort, with 45 selected incubates awaiting final financing from the Ministry, and they are receiving total handholding and mentorship" she added.
The team of Punjab Agri-Business Incubation Centre was congratulated by PAU Vice-Chancellor Sh. DK Tiwari IAS, Director of Research Dr. NS Bains, and Dean Postgraduate Studies Dr. JS Mahal. PAU's Business Manager, Mr. Rahul Gupta, was also present at the award ceremony.
