IIM Calcutta Innovation Park to Accelerate 24 Agroecological Enterprises Across Seven States under IFAD-Supported Project

Kolkata, 02 November 2026: IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has been selected as a qualified Technical Agency under the Investment in Agroecology Value Chain Project (IAVCP), supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to provide incubation and acceleration support to agroecological enterprises across seven states in Eastern and Northeast India.

Under this engagement, IIMCIP will design and deliver a structured nine-month acceleration and enterprise-strengthening programme for 24 agroecological enterprises across seven states. The programme has commenced on September 14th, 2026 

The cluster comprises 14 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and 10 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) operating across diverse agroecological value chains. Their products and services include cashew and ginger, banana fibre, bamboo-based biodegradable granules, grafting, fruits and vegetables, millet, fish feed, traceability, organic mustard, moringa, turmeric, water-hyacinth-based paper, fruit processing, paddy seed, pineapple, fish seed, bay leaf, coffee, fruit juice, Mizo chilli and Lakadong turmeric, among others.

At the broader project level, IAVCP has sanctioned grant support to 86 agroecological enterprises across 21 states, comprising Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), cooperatives and private enterprises (MSEs). ACCESS Development Services (ADS) is the Fund Manager for the project, which aims to strengthen the institutional capabilities and business viability of supported enterprises.

IIMCIP’s engagement will focus on four key areas: incubation and diagnostics; enterprise and systems strengthening; impact, risk and compliance; and investment readiness and closure. The programme will begin with enterprise maturity assessments and the identification of governance, operational and digital systems gaps. It will then support business model refinement, market segmentation, go-to-market strategies and the adoption of accounting and inventory management systems. Further support will cover impact measurement, certification readiness, risk identification and mitigation, and compliance planning.

In the later stages, IIMCIP will help enterprises assess their capital requirements, develop financial projections and prepare investor pitch decks and investment notes. The programme will also strengthen their preparedness for due diligence and facilitate connections with financing institutions and post-incubation ecosystems.

Progress will be tracked against indicators such as business model validation, adoption of digital systems, sales and customer acquisition, certification readiness and preparedness for investor engagement. Specific outcome targets will be finalised in consultation with the project stakeholders. The engagement will culminate in a Demo Day, expected in August 2027, bringing investment-ready enterprises together with development finance institutions, impact investors, and industry partners.

Ajay Jain, Chairman, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Board, said: “Agroecology value chain offers an opportunity to build enterprises that create economic value while strengthening livelihoods and making better use of local resources. Across Eastern and Northeast India, enterprises are building businesses around their regions' strengths and opportunities. The focus now should be on helping them strengthen their foundations, build greater resilience and unlock their potential for scale. Supporting such enterprises can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable regional growth, while advancing the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat. Through this programme, IIMCIP will support these enterprises in developing the capabilities needed to build stronger and more sustainable businesses.”