Tummala Nageswara Rao highlights entrepreneurship as key to rural prosperity

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao stressed the role of entrepreneurship in rural prosperity while addressing the SEED programme in Hyderabad. The event highlighted India-Nigeria cooperation in seed education, agricultural innovation, youth empowerment and the development of sustainable agribusiness enterprises

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao underscored the importance of entrepreneurship as the backbone of rural prosperity.

He also outlined a roadmap for agribusiness growth and envisioned collaborations between Telangana and Taraba State to build sustainable seed enterprises.

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The Minister addressed the valedictory and convocation ceremony of the International Training Program on Seed Education and Enterprise Development (SEED) held at IPE here on Wednesday.

The programme was jointly organised by Taraba Seeds Limited, Nigeria, Prasad Seeds Private Limited, India, and IPE in association with the Taraba State Government, Nigeria.

Prasad AgTech FZC aims to provide knowledge, skills and applications in the areas of Seed Education and Enterprise Development to selected youth from Taraba State, Nigeria.

The programme reflected the emergence of friendship and collaboration between India and Nigeria. It reaffirmed the shared vision of building bridges across nations to modernise agriculture, empower youth and create sustainable enterprises.

Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy, who was the Guest of Honour, emphasised skill development and labour reforms as essential support for agricultural entrepreneurship, ensuring that innovation translates into livelihoods for workers and communities.

Dr D Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor of SKLTGHU, highlighted the role of climate-friendly practices, horticultural innovation and knowledge exchange in transforming rural livelihoods.

Reinforcing this vision, K Madhava Rao, president of IPE’s Board of Governors, spoke about how institutional cooperation between India and Nigeria strengthens governance and capacity building in agriculture.

From the entrepreneurial side, Prasad Karumanchi, Founder & Chairman of Prasad Seeds, Taraba Seeds and Prasad AgTech FZC, shared his vision of connecting farmers across continents, while Dr G Dileep Kumar, Founder & CEO of Taraba Seeds Limited, showcased the training modules that gave Nigerian youth hands-on exposure to next-generation seed technologies.

After the distribution of certificates, Dr Ali Sarah Sabo Danjuma, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Taraba State, and Dr Joshua Mark Maaku, Director General, TAGIS, congratulated the trainees. His Excellency Dr Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State, urged the graduates to carry forward their knowledge while ensuring food security and prosperity.