Gujarat: Agri-business incubator of Anand gets PM Narendra Modi’s commendation

VADODARA/ ANAND: Just a year ago, 46-year-old Sai Sudha Chebrolu, a native of Andhra Pradesh, had launched her own enterprise in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants from Gujarat’s milk city Anand.
On Sunday, Chebrolu shot to limelight when Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi mentioned her startup in his discourse ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Within a short span, Chebrolu’s enterprise has generated Rs 15 lakh business with the help of Medi-Hub TBI, an agri-business incubator that guides business aspirants in technology management, business and incubation in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs).
“In a very short time, this incubator has supported business idea of 15 entrepreneurs. Sudha Chebrolu ji has launched her start-up only after getting the help of this incubator. Priority is given to women in this company, and they are also responsible for innovative herbal formulations,” the PM said while referring to Medi-Hub TBI’s attempt to promote start-ups.
PM also shared the success story of another female entrepreneur Subashree Vijay from Chennai whose firm is working in the field of herbal room and car fresheners. Subashree, 49, has created a herbal terrace garden which has more than 400 medicinal herbs.
Women like Chebrolu and Subashree have received support from Medi-Hub TBI, the first of its kind incubator that was commissioned in 2020 with the financial support from National Agricultural Innovation Fund of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of Centre’s department of Agricultural Research and Education.
It is based at the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), a national institute working on various aspects of MAPs under ICAR in Anand.
“Medi-Hub TBI’s vision is to commercialize innovations and startups in MAPs with best-in-class support system for entrepreneurs. So far, 15 incubatees having business idea in MAPs have been supported of which two are women entrepreneurs,” said Dr Satyajit Roy, ICAR-DMAPR’s director.
“Herbal is fast growing sector with many opportunities for business development. Many diverse groups of stakeholders are coming up to invest in this sector, and some are struggling to establish an enterprise. We help convert business ideas into a successful venture,” said Dr R Nagaraja Reddy, principal investigator of Medi-Hub, TBI.