Bhubaneswar, Feb. 1: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today said the state would initiate a start-up policy to promote entrepreneurship among the youth.

Naveen announced this at the inaugural ceremony of Indradhanush, the 16th edition of Agri-Uni fest at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology here.

"The agro industry and food processing are thrust sectors in our industrial policy resolution. I wish that the young agriculture professionals would venture into start-ups in the sector," he said.

The chief minister also extended his congratulations to the university for earning plaudits and titles at the fests in the past 15 years.

"This cultural fest will create an opportunity for students to strengthen the pluralistic culture of India," he said.

More than 1,500 student delegates from 50 agricultural universities from across the country arrived in the city to take part in the event. They will take part in a number of events, including folk song, folk dance, theatre, literary activities and fine arts, at the inter-agricultural universities' youth festival.

Promoted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the festival aims to promote national integration, communal harmony, peace and prosperity.

The students, decked up in attires representing their states and varsities, today took out a procession during the launch of the event.

Varsity authorities said the participants had been accommodated in various hostels on the campus. Student volunteers and staff members were co-ordinating the event.

Vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar said: "The fest is an effort to provide the students with an opportunity to represent their states and express their cultural pursuits."

The students are also excited about being a part of the festival.

"This fest is a unique blend of unity and cultural diversity. Odisha is known as the land of excellence in art and culture. I am waiting to see our friends from Odisha perform the traditional Odissi, gotipua, mahari and so on," said S. Dhanya, a student from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh.

"I plan to relish Odia dishes and take away sweet memories back home," said Shenoy Verghese, a student from the Kerala Agricultural University. He said fests such as Indradhanush created an opportunity for them to strengthen India's pluralistic culture.