The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in partnership with Startup India, launched the ‘Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge’, to scout for innovative and commercially viable solutions to address the problems faced by the animal husbandry and dairy sector. The challenge was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on 11th September 2019 at a national animal disease control programme in Mathura.
The challenge was open for application to startups from 11th September 2019 to 30th October 2019, on the Startup India portal – www.startupindia.gov.in. 157 applications were received in total for the six problem statements
The second edition of the challenge is now being launched. It is critical for the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) to keep scouting for innovative solutions and harnessing the power of new technologies in these sectors.
Cost-effective, Long-term, and User-friendly Alternatives for Storage and Supply of Semen Doses
Problem Statement
• Maintenance of cold chain to supply semen doses from Semen Production centres till the farmer’s house where semen is used to inseminate the farmer’s cow/ buffalo, is the backbone of AI delivery system in India.
• Liquid Nitrogen and liquid nitrogen containers are used to store and transport semen doses. The loss of LN2 during storage and transportation is high, leading to an increase in the cost of cold chain maintenance.
• LN2 is a by-product of steel and oxygen industry. So, wherever these industries are available, the cost of LN2 is relatively low but in other parts it is on the higher side.
• Inappropriate handling of LN2 may lead to health risks.
• LN2 storage containers are bulky and heavy, so movement of these containers requires excessive manpower.
Expectations from the Solution
• Some alternate cost effective, long duration, and user-friendly means of storage and transport of Semen Doses (cryopreservation) may be explored and popularised.
• The storage container may be designed in such a way that it should be small and easy to carry.
Awards:-
Fiscal Incentives
Cash Prizes
For each problem area, a winner to be awarded with INR 10 lakhs and a runner-up with INR 7 lakhs as cash prizes.
Incubation
Up to 12 winners to get incubation. The incubator would be responsible for virtual incubation of these startups for up to 3 months, mentor matchmaking, lab facility for POC development and testing facilities (on case to case basis), conducting business and investor workshops, and tracking the activities of the startups for up to 9 months after the completion of the program.
Non-Fiscal Incentives
Virtual Masterclasses
Up to 6 virtual masterclasses (one for each problem statement) to be organized for providing mentorship to all startups and innovators who will apply for the challenge
Mentorship
A dedicated mentor from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying would be assigned to each winner for 6 months.
Showcase Opportunity
The products/ solutions of the winners of the program would be showcased at Krishi Bhawan, in front on the Hon’ble Minister’s office and the Secretary office, in New Delhi to ensure maximum visibility.
Demo Day
A virtual demo day meet would be organized for the top 30 startups selected from the applicant pool, across problem areas
Deadline:- 31-12-2021
