Bhubaneswar, Aug. 24: The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) is set to have an incubation centre to help budding entrepreneurs found agri-related start-ups.

The centre, which is estimated to cost Rs 7 crore, will groom about 100 entrepreneurs from various categories. It will be based in Bhubaneswar and come up at the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology under the varsity.

"At the onset, we plan to take in graduates - mid-course and fresh - preferably from agri or allied fields. We will also encourage progressive farmers with impressive ideas and projects," said university vice-chancellor S.N. Pasupalak. He said the incubation centre would provide knowledge, technology and infrastructure to the budding entrepreneurs.

The university also announced a new scheme - Skilled in Agriculture - as part of which skill development centres will be set up in various parts of the state with a budget of around Rs 6 crore. These centres are set up in 31 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, 10 agro-polytechnic centres and dedicated commodity laboratories such as the mushroom and honeybee ones.

At least one lakh youths will be trained in agriculture and allied sectors over the next three years, said Pasupalak. School dropouts, practising farmers or students, who are already engaged in agri studies, will be included in the programme.

On the occasion of its 55th foundation day, the university also announced two new courses - a certificate course in veterinary pathology and a diploma in agriculture as provided in various Industrial Training Institutes.

"The pathology course will produce technically sound professionals, who can test blood and stool of different animals and birds. These students may be posted anywhere in the state," Pasupalak said.

He also spoke about the ambitious community radio centres that the varsity plans to set up to reach out to farmers. These centres, set up at various Krishi Vigyan Kendras, will disseminate information related to agricultural needs besides success stories from nearby areas and information about climate and weather.

Each community radio centre will cover a radius of 12km and be set up with an investment of Rs 20 lakh each.

The authorities said they were working hard to fill up the vacancies in the university. Of the 500 sanctioned posts, as many as 171 teaching posts are lying vacant - which has been affecting research and academics at the university. "We are in talks with the state government to sort this out," said Pasupalak.