Catalyzing agri-innovation and the impact of SABAGRIs in eastern India

Catalyzing agri-innovation in eastern India

Authors

  • ANIL KUMAR SINGH Director Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar- 813 210 India 
  • ADITYA SINHA Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar- 813 210 India
  • DEEPAK KUMAR PATEL Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Extension Education, Bihar
  • AMITA SINGH Business Manager, SABAGRIs, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour
  • RAVI KUMAR GOYAL COO and Director INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FEDERATION OF CCS NIAM CIN : U88900RJ2023NPL091289 Regd Office: C/O. CCS NIAM, Kota Road, Bambala, Pratap Nagar Housing Board, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 302033 Website: https://niam-nabi.com/
  • DUNIYA RAM SINGH Vice Chancellor, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v12i01.15224

Keywords:

Agri-entrepreneurship, Agricultural Innovation, Startup, Incubation, Rural Development

Abstract

The Sabour Agri Business Incubation Centre (SABAGRIs) at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, represents a transformative initiative in Eastern India’s agricultural landscape. By fostering entrepreneurship, promoting innovation, and offering comprehensive support to startups, SABAGRIs addresses key challenges in productivity, sustainability, and rural livelihoods. It is supported by RKVY-RAFTAAR and the Bihar Startup Policy 2022, which empowers innovators through programs like AOP, SAIP, and SABANKURAN, providing mentorship, funding, and capacity-building. Focused on inclusive growth, it especially supports youth, women, and marginalized communities. Sectoral interventions span organic farming, food processing, fisheries, livestock management, agri-mechanization, and digital agriculture. Case studies, such as Stepupify Labs Pvt. Ltd., illustrate the real-world impact of this incubation model. SABAGRIs has emerged as a blueprint for rural economic transformation, with recommendations to strengthen scale-up support, extend outreach to underserved regions, and build alumni networks for sustainable, long-term ecosystem development.

Keywords: Agri-entrepreneurship, Agricultural Innovation, Startup, Incubation, Rural Development

Author Biographies

ANIL KUMAR SINGH, Director Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar- 813 210 India 

Director Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar- 813 210 India 

ADITYA SINHA, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar- 813 210 India

Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Extension Education, Bihar

DEEPAK KUMAR PATEL, Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Extension Education, Bihar

Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Extension Education, Bihar

AMITA SINGH, Business Manager, SABAGRIs, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

Business Manager, SABAGRIs, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

RAVI KUMAR GOYAL, COO and Director INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FEDERATION OF CCS NIAM CIN : U88900RJ2023NPL091289 Regd Office: C/O. CCS NIAM, Kota Road, Bambala, Pratap Nagar Housing Board, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 302033 Website: https://niam-nabi.com/

COO and Director
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FEDERATION OF CCS NIAM
CIN : U88900RJ2023NPL091289
Regd Office: C/O. CCS NIAM, Kota Road, Bambala, Pratap Nagar Housing Board, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 302033

DUNIYA RAM SINGH, Vice Chancellor, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

Vice Chancellor, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour

References

Bihar Startup Policy. 2022. Department of Industries, Government of Bihar. Retrieved from https://startup.bihar.gov.in/static/media/Bihar%20Start%20Up%20Policy%202022%20-%20English.819a44b43dd8fb4ddf0d.pdf

Du J, Li J, Liang B and Yan Z. 2025. Optimizing Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: The Role of Government-Certified Incubators in Early-Stage Financing. Sustainability, 17(9), 3854.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. 2023. RKVY-RAFTAAR Operational Guidelines. Retrieved from https://agriportal.cg.nic.in/horticulture/PDF/Programs_Schemes/RKVY/RKVY_CG_Guideline2023.pdf

Rai, R. S., Prasad, A., & Murthy, B. K. (2025). Incubation support for academia-based entrepreneurship: an empirical study. Journal of Asia Business Studies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-02-2024-0102

Ravichandran R and Dixit P. 2024. Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs: The role of innovation and incubation centres. Journal of Vocational Education Studies, 7(1), 81-100.

Singh PK, Sharma RP, Rahaman SM, Bairwa SL, Kumari M, Choudhary A, Bhardwaj A, Singh P, Goswami TN, Sinha A, Sengupta S, Chattopadhyay T, Srinivasaraghavan A and Patil S. 2022. Souvenir-cum-Abstracts Book. Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour (India).

Singh AK, Patel DK, Sinha A and Singh A. 2024. Entrepreneurship Bulletin, SABAGRIs. Directorate of Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, pp. 1-23.

Singh AK, Patel DK, Sinha A and Singh A. 2025. Status Report SABAGRIs 2024-25. Directorate of Research, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-31

Most read articles by the same author(s)