FIRST IIT Kanpur Designated Knowledge Partner for RKVY-RAFTAAR; MoU Announced at IIT Kanpur Noida Outreach Centre
The Foundation for Innovation and Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur, through its incubation arm, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), has been formally designated as the Knowledge Partner for the RKVY-RAFTAAR (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation) scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. The announcement was made during a Launch and Stakeholder Engagement Event held at the IIT Kanpur Noida Outreach Centre, presided over by Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, as Chief Guest.
Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, FIRST IIT Kanpur, delivered the Welcome Address and formally announced the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The vision and framework of RKVY-RAFTAAR were presented by Ms. Surbhi Awasthi, General Manager, FIRST IIT Kanpur. As Knowledge Partner, FIRST IIT Kanpur will play a pivotal role in driving agri-startup incubation, structured mentorship, funding linkages, and strategic coordination with RKVY Agri-Business Incubators (RABIs) across the country. The collaboration aims to strengthen innovation across precision farming, agri-biotechnology, post-harvest technology, and allied agricultural sectors, creating a robust pipeline of scalable agritech solutions.
“FIRST, IIT Kanpur brings world-class academic rigour and a proven innovation ecosystem to RKVY-RAFTAAR. This partnership will meaningfully accelerate agritech entrepreneurship and create lasting impact for India’s farming communities,” said Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
Shri K. Vijayendra Pandian, IAS, Commissioner Kanpur and Vice Chancellor, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, addressed the gathering as Guest of Honour and emphasised the importance of strong university–startup linkages in strengthening India’s agricultural innovation pipeline. Shri Pankaj Kumar, Chief General Manager, NABARD Regional Office Lucknow, delivered the Special Address and reaffirmed NABARD’s commitment to financing agritech innovation and supporting startups emerging from the RKVY-RAFTAAR ecosystem.
“Agriculture is the backbone of India, and agritech innovation holds the key to making it more productive and resilient. We are committed to channelling IIT Kanpur’s two-decade-long expertise in deep-tech incubation into transforming India’s agritech sector,” said Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, FIRST IIT Kanpur.
A key highlight of the event was the Agri-Startup Showcase, featuring five promising ventures from the IIT Kanpur innovation ecosystem, namely ScaNxt, Fruvetech, Regenerix F2DF – किसान की Online दुकान, and OpenSpectrum AI. The startups presented innovative solutions spanning precision agriculture, post-harvest technology, and rural supply chain optimisation. The pitches drew strong engagement from policymakers, highlighting the depth of agritech innovation being nurtured within India’s academic institutions. The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr. Piyush Mishra, COO, FIRST IIT Kanpur, followed by an Open House Interaction and Networking Lunch designed to foster meaningful collaborations among stakeholders.
