Bio –Business: Rural Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship development at rural and semi urban area is of importance in India. Now specially when rural contribution in GDP is said to be significantly low. The major factor that can determine rural participation in GDP is decentralization of new knowledge power for resource utility. This is a fact that majority of resource which presently are mainstay of our economy are from rural India only. The guardian of resources hardly gets 10 to 15% of the ultimate profit and large part of this boon is enjoyed by others. It is a common scenario of the country where rural poor just do not find any role in secondary production and so the benefit.

There is a need to promote local resources based biotechnology intervention. There are advantage and limitation both in case of promotion of rural entrepreneurship. Such limitations can be overcome particularly when advantages can outdo former. There is a need of an organized approach. This should not also be forgotten that promotion of small biotechnology entrepreneurship programme just by rural empowerment and also better profit at the primary source will encourage community’ s faith upon the resource guarding and generation. Another very concern that has paralyzed economic balance in rural urban India can be restored by setting migration, can be controlled.

The advantage of such initiative is many as local resource as community and employment can become an impetus for larger follow up.The apparent limitations of such programme need to be acknowledged and likewise strategy can be formulated. These are: -


Resources: - Undoubtedly resource availability is unlimited in rural India. It is both forest and community based. As a matter of fact, it is always desirable to promote first the resource available abundantly in and around community. This is mainly because of past experience where resource development and its linkages with product and marketing have not been much success. It is advisable to promote local resource intervention at initial phase to develop local confidence and trust.

Biotechnology: - Besides resources nature of biotechnology become important parameters. In context of rural India the biotechnology must be simple, feasible, cost effective and matching to local wisdom. The technology that pays you immediately must be the first quality in rural context. Any technology package that needs larger infrastructure, maintenance and intense backup services, normally does not work in rural context particularly when multiplier effect is to be judged.

Skill sharing capacity and knowledge must be considered when a technology is to be introduced in rural areas. This unfortunately is not considered adequately and is the reason of major failure in technology adoptability.

Market: - Review of present market scenario reveals that about 90% products sold in the rural market is urban borne. These products can also be prepared locally as resources are available here. Technology and knowledge are the only limitations. Market initially at local and then semi to urban region should be the part of bio business strategies.


The above three parameters can decide intervention for bio-entrepreneurship and bio business in rural India. Some of the possible areas where immediate intervention can be decided.

1. Value addition in Agri – Horti produce: -
· Nutri cereals/ food
· Nutri fruits

2. Neutriceutical products: - A combination of herbs and fruits

3. Fragrant material and Fragrance
· Aromatic plants
· Essence
· E- Cake
· E- sticks
4. Repellent
· Insect repellent
· Mosquito repellent
· House fly repellent

The above sectors where immediate attentions can be paid. The resources and some wisdom are already available besides local market availability.


Launching Strategies: -
· Selection of zone with rural semi urban community
· Market Study: - Demand and driven
· Resource survey and knowledge
· Product assumption
· Technology sourcing
· Unit establishment and training
· Pattern of local consumption and marketing
· Review: Sustained backward and forward linkages