ICRISAT and SERP Join Hands to Revitalize Livelihoods in Telangana through Agro-Processing and Entrepreneurship Development
To address the challenges around post-harvest loss, lack of storage and processing infrastructure in the State of Telangana, ICRISAT and SERP collaborate to empower farmers with agribusiness skills.
Hyderabad, India – The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Telangana, signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement on 22 April 2025 to establish 2,500 Agro-Processing Enterprises in the state by 2028.
This agreement marks the start of a transformative collaboration between ICRISAT and SERP titled, Revitalizing Rural and Urban Livelihoods through Establishment of Inclusive Agro-Processing Business Models and Entrepreneurship Development in Telangana State.
Highlighting the project’s vision, Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak said,
“This project tackles two of the biggest challenges faced by Indian farmers, fair market access and freedom from exploitative middlemen. We cannot afford to fail in this mission, and I am confident ICRISAT, together with SERP, will leverage our collective expertise to make this initiative a success in Telangana, with the potential to be scaled across India.”
The project aims to enhance technical skills, strengthen quality control, and improve access to both domestic and international markets, creating lasting economic opportunities for communities across the state.
Speaking on the necessity of value addition, Ms Divya Devarajan, IAS, CEO, SERP Telangana, said,
“Farmers nurture their crops like their own children, yet often they face disrespect and unfair prices when selling to middlemen. Through this partnership with ICRISAT, we will impart the required knowledge about value addition and primary processing to farmers. It is our bold attempt to transform the lives of farmers, especially women farmers, by giving them limitless opportunities, dignity, and choice in marketing their produce.”
ICRISAT’s Agribusiness Incubation Platform (AIP) will play a pivotal role in this project leveraging its global network and local agribusiness experience with the Government of Telangana. The project will adopt a holistic approach, integrating feasibility analysis, technical support, and capacity building.
Plans are also underway to explore convergence with national schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
This work aligns with SDGs 1, 2 & 8.
Roseleen Aind
