23.04.2026: Governor tells universities to establish agro-based incubation centre, promote startups

23.04.2026: Governor and Chancellor of state universities Jishnu Dev Varma today presided over a meeting of senior officers from the Agriculture and ADF Department of Government of Maharashtra and Vice-Chancellors of agricultural and animal sciences universities at Lok Bhavan Mumbai. The Governor instructed agricultural universities to establish an agro-based incubation centre and to promote 50 startups based on agricultural products. He said promoting startups will ensure that agricultural products developed within universities find markets, thereby creating income-generating opportunities for agriculture graduates. Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department Dr. Ramaswami N., made a presentation on animal husbandry, dairy development, and fisheries, highlighting the opportunities and challenges in the sector. Commissioner Agriculture Suraj Mandhare, Fisheries Commissioner Prerna Deshbhratar, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Kiran Patil, and Vice-Chancellors of all four agricultural universities in the state and the veterinary and fisheries university, were present. During the meeting, presentations were also made by the Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department and the Commissioner of Agriculture. Vice-Chancellor of MAFSU Dr. Nitin Patil made a presentation on the achievements of his university. Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dr. Sanjay Bhave, also made a presentation.
Vice-Chancellors Dr. Vilas Kharche of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; Dr. Sharad Gadakh of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; and Dr. Indra Mani of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, also presented overviews of their respective universities.