IMPACT OF AGRI -TECH STARTUPS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND EMPLOYMENT – A STUDY IN NALGONDA DISTRICT OF TELANGANA STATE

Abstract The study aims to know the profile characteristics of Agriculture- Technology(agri-tech) start- up entrepreneurs. It also finds the impact of agri-tech start up on productivity and employment. It enquires the various financial sources to the entrepreneurs and investigates the challenges faced . The study is based on primary data. The study used random sample method to select the agri-tech start up entrepreneurs. Miryalguda Mandal in Nalgonda district of Telangana state was selected for the study due to concentration of agri-tech start- ups. The study found that 70 percent were postgraduates and 30 percent were Diploma holders; 90 percent were owners and 80 percent were trained agri-tech start up entrepreneurs. The agri-tech start- ups generated employment to 243 persons during the immediate last season. Cooperatives provided loan to 50 percent start- ups and the money lenders provided finance to 35 percent start- up entrepreneurs The study concluded that the main obstacle in using agri-tech start-up was finance. Half of the entrepreneurs’ source of finance was cooperatives and money lenders. The study suggested for provision of finance through banks. The new agriculture technology which was developed in the agriculture universities should be introduced to the start-up entrepreneurs to increase productivity and employment. Keywords: Star-tup entrepreneurs, Agri-tech, Productivity, Employment generation, IOT, Organic farming, Driverless tractors, Bsttery operated tools, Sources of finance