The dedicated start-up for students in organic farming was launched at Mahatma Gandhi University on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, S. Venkataraman, chief general manager, State Bank of India, underscored the key role the youth had to play in infusing fresh ideas and finding lasting solutions to the problems faced by the farming community. Studies showed the income levels of the farming community had to be doubled in the immediate future. This showed it was high time the youth reached out to farmers with new ideas, he said. Laying stress on the need for entrepreneurial interventions, he said the nation was looking up to them. Bankers would only be ready to support financially any viable project.

In his address, Babu Sebastian, Vice Chancellor, said the initiative would trigger innovations in organic farming, sustainable agriculture and waste management. The business incubation centre and the patent centre were expected to bring in revenue for the university, he added.