1. BIG IDEAS
Global agribusiness incubation model
W
e see a huge need and value in fostering agribusiness entrepreneurship
in developing countries. To take this even further, we see an opportunity to
provide the connections to the global markets, for these entrepreneurs.
This can be achieved by:
Setting up agribusiness incubators in developing countries
Linking these agribusiness incubators to provide access to the knowledge,
technology, connections and markets in other countries.
Science with a human face
www.icrisat.org
November 2013

2. Problems and opportunities
There is a need to further develop the
agricultural value chains in developing countries,
to improve food and livelihood security and
economic growth.
Small entrepreneurs in developing countries struggle
with less access to the needed resources, assets,
technologies, expertise and market information and
access.
This will also open opportunities for entrepreneurs
to take their products and technologies to the
market globally.
Agribusiness entrepreneurship opens opportunities
for new businesses as well as for smallholder farmers
to build closer business link with the market and be a
stronger player in the value chain.
The solution
ICRISAT has already a proven model for
agribusiness incubators through the experience
of setting up 22 agribusiness incubators in India,
11 in Africa and others in Nepal, Philippines, and
Sri Lanka.
These are self-sustaining incubators set up through
private-public partnerships.
The incubators nurture and mentor
entrepreneurs, providing technical, business
and market information, as well as knowledge
on the access to credit and partners.
Link these agribusiness incubators
to provide access to the knowledge,
connections and markets in other
countries.
Linking the incubators across regions and
countries will allow knowledge and
technology sharing. This will be the channel
for small agribusiness entrepreneurs to grow
and tap other markets.
This is a technology transfer model that allows
two-way flow of knowledge and technologies,
for faster scaling up and building more
profitable businesses.
•
There will be a special focus on including
women farmers and agribusiness
entrepreneurs.
Opening up of new avenues of partnership with
various public and private sector development
agencies/organizations.
To scale up this model it is recommended to:
Set up agribusiness incubators in
developing countries
This will include significant expansion of the
number of incubators to reach a critical mass in
Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The incubators will be set up through privatepublic partnerships with ICRISAT hand
holding the process of setting up and operating
in a network to form a Global Agri-Business
Incubators Network.
Expected outcomes
•
•
Better entrepreneurship, enhanced technology
transfer and development of better marketrelevant agro-technologies for entrepreneurs in
developing nations.
Enabling farmers to become a part of the value
chain and enhance their livelihood means.
•
Involvement
Contact
Be a partner in setting up agribusiness incubators.
Kiran K Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Agribusiness
and Innovation Platform; E-mail: k.sharma@cgiar.org
Be a partner in expanding/strengthening this Global
Agri-Business Incubator Network, and contribute in
the scaling-up efforts to enhance productivity of the
agriculture sector.
2
A concept note for
Ensuring nutritional security in rural India