Roles and Responsibilities

APICOL will provide set up space for AE Hub.

APICOL will set up a Project Management Unit to implement the scheme which will have following functions :

PMU will implement, review and monitor the project.

PMU will report the progress of the project to APICOL.

PMU will take care of various procedures with respect to record keeping, accounting, approvals and release of funds in timely manner.

PMU will coordinate with AE hub and APICOL for smooth functioning of scheme.

PMU will work on the implementation of AEPS-2018. It will coordinate directly with respective project block P-NGOs and BLO, District Nodal Officers to ensure timely implementation of project. It will coordinate with BLCC, DLCC& SLCC for presenting the out raising issues and facilitate the problem faced by AE & P-NGOs. It will also create a ecosystem for AE to knowledge resource pull , Financial facilitation eg Loan Linkages & Subsidy assistance.

PMU will monitor the financial aspect of AEPS-2018. It will release the indented fund and AEPS expenses timely as per convenience for the stake holders.

APICOL will fund the scheme.

APICOL will also facilitate to avail finance to AE from the banks.

APICOL will set up Training Centres for conducting centralised trainings related to scheme at Bhubaneswar.

Partner agency will help in identifying, designing each intervention, preparing business plan and mentoring during its implementation.

Partner agency will provide resource persons arrange exposure site and look after the logistics of training by deploying appropriate resources.

Partner agency with the help of APICOL will identify certification partners for the training conducted under the scheme.

Partner agency would support to build the eco systems for AE to perform with the help of Govt departments by providing appropriate linkages.

Partner Agency would build the AE-Hub during the project period. Govt will provide Infrastructure for the AE-Hub.

Partner Agency will prepare AE hub’s plan of business and staffing required based on the volume, transactions and revenue in critical activities.

Partner agency will partner with universities/institutes in the state to create a special incubation centre to train, hand hold and incubate the entrepreneurs. The proposed Agri-Startup/Incubation fund will be planned by the institution and Partner Agency and payment will be done by APICOL with a recommendation from Partner agency. The incubation centre shall have well equipped lab, Agri-museum (showcasing traditional & modern equipment, different livelihood models, literature, videos, etc.) and training centre that can offer hands-on& experiential training to the entrepreneurs. The incubator shall also introduce new technologies, new ways of farming, organic farming, post-production mechanisms customised to the proposed activities. The basic orientation training will be imparted in the incubation centre whereas hand holding and skill based training will be arranged in a decentralised manner in the district/block level by the partner agency.

Partner agency will place 5 persons in this project; one as a project lead who will integrate and ensures the roles of Partner agency and 2 professionals having significant experience on Marketing and Agriculture will strengthen this theme and fourth one having experience on data management (MIS) and updated computer knowledge will develop ICT and relevant software for required information and fifth person to look after the accounting aspects of the AE Hub.

Master Entrepreneurs are those with a higher competencies and/or relevant experience placed at district level.

Existing Entrepreneurs in the area will be preferred to play this role.

These entrepreneurs build linkages with the AEs and also get connected with the AE-Hub.

Since the AEs are placed at Panchayat level and may not find it convenient to purchase directly from the AE-Hub, the Master Entrepreneurs facilitate their orders as well as act as a support centre for their technical problems, warranty claims, product related issues etc.
In cases where local FPOs/ SHG tier institution / Co-Operatives/ Producers company are functioning they can act as MEs (also preferred) based on a defined process of selection. It will depend on the roles/functions of these FPOs.

Master entrepreneurs get direct training from the product/ service suppliers to deal with the technicalities of products. They also can access larger loans from banks for a warehouse, repair/ maintenance workshop etc. partner agency would map the potential MEs and link them with relevant companies.

Master Entrepreneurs are those with a higher competencies and/or relevant experience placed at district level.

Existing Entrepreneurs in the area will be preferred to play this role.

These entrepreneurs build linkages with the AEs and also get connected with the AE-Hub.

Since the AEs are placed at Panchayat level and may not find it convenient to purchase directly from the AE-Hub, the Master Entrepreneurs facilitate their orders as well as act as a support centre for their technical problems, warranty claims, product related issues etc.
In cases where local FPOs/ SHG tier institution / Co-Operatives/ Producers company are functioning they can act as MEs (also preferred) based on a defined process of selection. It will depend on the roles/functions of these FPOs.

Master entrepreneurs get direct training from the product/ service suppliers to deal with the technicalities of products. They also can access larger loans from banks for a warehouse, repair/ maintenance workshop etc. partner agency would map the potential MEs and link them with relevant companies.

AE will subscribe to the AE-Hub by paying subscription fees for a fixed number of years ( 3 years ).

AE would have their designated bank account/ digital payment wallet linked to the A-E-Hub for easy payment for purchases. Their transaction record can be used by banks for sanctioning larger loans/ overdraft as and when required by them.

AE will do the business activity in their selected trade in the areas allocated to them.

AE will also have a network at their APC (Agriculture production Cluster) level to aggregate their demand and improve the quality of services. They will work closely with the FPOs for building mutuality; however they will play their role independently.