The Student Orientation Program (SOP) under the RKVY-RAFTAAR initiative, implemented by the MANAGE Centre for Innovation and Agripreneurship (CIA), is designed to support students in transforming innovative agribusiness ideas into viable prototypes, products, or services. This program plays a foundational role in nurturing early-stage entrepreneurial talent by equipping participants with both technical and business-oriented capabilities.
The SOP provides a structured pathway for students to validate their ideas through a combination of mentorship, hands-on training, and exposure to real startup environments. Selected participants undergo an intensive mentoring and internship experience with startups in agriculture and allied sectors. This immersion allows them to understand market dynamics, operational challenges, and strategic decision-making processes critical to building a sustainable agribusiness.
Following successful completion of the orientation phase, participants are given the opportunity to pitch their ideas for grant-in-aid support of up to ₹4 lakh. This financial assistance is intended to help convert early-stage ideas into tangible prototypes or minimum viable products. The funding can cover key activities such as product development, validation, and initial market testing.
The program also contributes to building a pipeline of innovation-driven entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector by encouraging students to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career path. It integrates ecosystem support through mentorship, incubation exposure, and access to domain experts, thereby strengthening the overall agritech innovation landscape in India.
