PH university breaks new ground in business incubation
03/10/2011
HYDERABAD, India - Noting the downtrend in the interest in agriculture among the youth, the Nueva Ecija-based Central Luzon State University (CLSU) will implement an initiative that will help agri-entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
HYDERABAD, India - Noting the downtrend in the interest in agriculture among the youth, the Nueva Ecija-based Central Luzon State University (CLSU) will implement an initiative that will help agri-entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
On the sidelines of the Global Agri-Business Incubation Conference of the Network of Indian Agri-Business Incubation, CLSU President Ruben Sevilleja said the university will spearhead the agriculture and food-based Technology Business Incubator (TBI).
TBI is patterned after the Agri-Business Incubation model of the Hyderabad-based International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat). The model is aimed at facilitating competitive agri-business enterprises through technology development and commercialization.
Icrisat, which is led by Director General William Dar, conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Icrisat’s approach is aimed at food security.
"A lot of the TBIs we have in the Philippines are focused on the information technology (IT) sector,” Sevilleja said.
CLSU is the first in the country to focus on an initiative that is agriculture and food-based, he added. Its TBI is supported by a P29 million initial grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The ABI concept developed by Icrisat emphasizes the importance of "mentoring." Potential entrepreneurs are provided assistance, from business planning to the actual marketing of a product.
"Dr. William Dar has actually offered to assist us in implementing the TBI. We will be discussing the possibility of securing technical assistance from Icrisat," said Sevilleja.
Eduardo G. Marzan, Jr., TBI project leader, said the university will announce by March the first batch of TBI "incubatees.” The TBI willl focus on 8 farm and food products, including rice, goat and tilapia.
He noted the concept has already been incorporated in the university's agriculture and fisheries curricular program to show students the income potential from agri-based ventures.
"We want to develop new entrepreneurs in agriculture and fisheries who will not look for jobs after graduation but hopefully put up their own businesses," said Sevilleja.
He noted that the university saw a decline in the agriculture courses.
He said the youth is reluctant of tapping the industry because of a supposed lack in employment opportunities.
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