Backone-day workshop on "Agribusiness Incubation in Sheep Enterprises and Use of Natural Fibers in place of Plastics" at ICAR-CSWRI

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 A one-day workshop on "Agribusiness Incubation in Sheep Enterprises and Use of Natural Fibers in place of Plastics" was organized on 30 September 2022 at ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar. Dr. D. B. Shakyawar, Director, National Institute of Natural Fiber Engineering and Technology, Kolkata, Chief Guest of the program emphasized the use of fibers like wool and jute as an alternative to plastics. Presiding over the program, Dr. Arun Kumar Tomar, Director, Avikanagar Institute, highlighted the utility and growth potential of sheep and goat-based businesses in the present scenario. Dr. Vikram Singh, a scientist coordinating the agribusiness nurturing program in various institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, was present as a special guest. More than 50 entrepreneurs from across the country associated with the Institute's Agribusiness Fostering Center participated in the workshop and thanked the institute for its contribution to its entrepreneurship journey.  In the program, the guests and entrepreneurs appreciated the wool sapling bag developed in collaboration with the institute as an important technology in the direction of environmental protection. In the workshop, 5 business institutes and entrepreneurs who are newly joining the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICAR-CSWRI Avikanagar for mutual cooperation. Mr. Santosh Mahatme, Consultant, Bhadpal Shetkari (Farmer) Producing Organization, Maharashtra signed MoU with the institute for technical cooperation in sheep rearing and nutrition technologies. Mr. Dharampal Garhwal, Amalaan Organic, Rajasthan signed MoU for indigenous woolen shawl branding and commercialization. In the workshop, subject experts of Kolkata and Avikanagar Institute, Dr. Sanjoy Debnath, Dr. Ajay Kumar, and Dr. L. Ammayappan delivered lectures on the research done and products developed on the use of natural fibers especially jute and wool as an alternative to single-use plastics. Dr. Vinod Kadam, the organizing secretary of the program highlighted the importance of the ABI center in the upliftment of young entrepreneurs through technical support and a strong hand-holding by the institute. Dr. Ajit Singh Mahla and Dr. Arvind Soni were the co-conveners of the scientific workshop. The stage was coordinated by Dr. Leela Ram Gurjar in the program. On this occasion, all scientific and technical staff of ICAR-CSWRI along with students and nearby progressive farmers present making the participation count close to a hundred.