Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture through Agro Processing Centre: a Case Study of Almora District in NW Himalaya

Abstract

This study was conducted by Vivekananda Institute of Hill Agriculture, Almora (India) to enhance entrepreneurship in the unemployed educated youths in North-Western Himalayas, who otherwise are migrating from hills in search of employment and livelihood. An agro-processing centre (APC) was established with the institutional support and was operational through an entrepreneur. The establishment cost of INR 2,19,000 was borne by the institute. The entrepreneur invested INR 1,66,255 for purchasing raw food grains. Total annual cost (Operational cost + Rental value of APC and storage building) was INR 27956. Annual income of INR 95,145/- was generated from sale of the processed products in brand name of “HIMRAJ” apart from generating income of INR 27,867 by providing processing service to the nearby farmers. This way he earned the INR 1,23,012 as gross income, where as net income was INR 81,356 per annum. This case study shows that if an entrepreneur maintains the APC in effectively, he can generate sufficient income from processing and value-addition of food grains. As a result of this, youths in hills can be self-employed and will not migrate from hills in search of employment and livelihood security.