Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems
  • Year: 2022
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 2

Plant health clinic (PHC) startups as a viable extension model for transfer of biocontrol products in horticultural crops

1Rashvee International Phytosanitary Research and Services, Bengaluru, 560024, India

2Formerly with ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources and ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

*E-mail: abraham.avergis@gmail.com

Online published on 26 June, 2023.

Abstract

In recent past, public funded institutions are entering into commercialization of their products especially in the field of crop protection like biopesticides and botanical products. This has paved way for emergence of ‘startup culture’ in agriculture with young entrepreneurs with sound technical background showing keen interest. This article highlights the scope of these startups doubling up as plant health clinics and how they reach out to farmers with a case study of an emerging startup being promoted by entomologists.

Keywords

Agri-startup, Farm inputs, Biopesticides, Plant health clinic