Guwahati: The School of Agro and Rural Technology (SART) at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati inaugurated the Tree-Based Enterprise Incubation Center (TBEIC) under the Tree Outside Forests in India (TOFI) initiative on January 10.
This pioneering center aims to foster sustainable, tree-based enterprises that contribute to India’s environmental, economic, and rural development goals.
The TBEIC is designed to develop value chains for various tree crops, promote large-scale plantations, and foster innovations in tree-based products and services.
Leveraging IIT Guwahati’s intellectual resources and its strategic location as a gateway to the Southeast Asian market of 800 million people, the center is expected to drive regional and global impact.
The inauguration was presided over by Dr. Steven Olive, USAID Mission Director – India, and Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati.
Speaking at the inauguration event, Dr. Steven Olive, USAID Mission Director-India, said, “IIT Guwahati is a wonderful place to study and innovate. What is exciting is how new startups, empowered by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, are shaping the future. They are bridging the gap between old and new, creating opportunities that will benefit both India and the world.”
Olive said, “At USAID, we are thrilled to be partnering with IIT Guwahati, Assam, and the TOFI team to catalyse these innovations, helping bring transformative technologies to farmers and communities. This partnership is just the beginning, and in the years ahead, I look forward to seeing how these advancements will change the world.”
The Tree-Based Enterprise Incubation Center (TBEIC) at SART, IIT Guwahati, is designed to play a pivotal role in incubating and supporting tree-based enterprises (TBEs).
It aims to enhance the technical and business skills of entrepreneurs, familiarise stakeholders with advanced agroforestry technologies, provide comprehensive support in business planning, financing, and marketing, and de-risk the setup process for new enterprises.
Through these focused initiatives, the TBEIC seeks to empower stakeholders and foster sustainable growth in tree-based enterprises.
Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “As the premier institution in the Northeast, IIT Guwahati is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainable growth in the region. Through collaborative efforts with organisations like USAID and local communities, we aim to empower agro-based ventures and promote eco-friendly, resource-efficient solutions.”
Our goal is to leverage the region’s rich ecological and cultural assets to create impactful, long-term change, he said.
The TBEIC will focus on a range of technologies critical to tree-based enterprise development, including Wood and bamboo-based composites and furniture manufacturing, bamboo-based cosmetic products and natural dye manufacturing, agarwood processing, medicinal herbal foods, and other herbal products, biomass palletisation, latex tapping, and rubber intermediate production.
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The center will also play a vital role in promoting modern plantation technologies technology and carbon credit enabling technology, and fostering innovations in fresh and freeze-dried fruits, as well as other agroforestry innovations.
