Kerala Agricultural University Agri Business Incubator honours academic achievers, award-winning entrepreneurs and FPOs

Kerala Agricultural University Agri Business Incubator honours academic achievers, award-winning entrepreneurs and FPOs KAU V-C appreciates the significant role played by the Agri Business Incubator in supporting farmers in their transition from agricultural production to value addition, entrepreneurship and market development.

Key points

• Kerala Agricultural University Agri Business Incubator honours meritorious students, State-level award-winning entrepreneurs, and farmer producer organisations at an event in Thrissur on Wednesday.
• Sajitha Rani, Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Kerala Agricultural University, was the chief guest at the function organised on Wednesday.
• Bonny, Director of Extension, KAU, outlined the various initiatives undertaken by the university for strengthening FPOs.
• He highlighted the achievement of Juz Crush, a fruit and vegetable processing enterprise.
• As a beneficiary of the ABI's training, capacity-building and entrepreneurship backing initiatives, sudheer additionally highlighted PALA Santhom Factory FPO, recipient of the State-level award for the best FPO.

Kerala Agricultural University Agri Business Incubator honours meritorious students, State-level award-winning entrepreneurs, and farmer producer organisations at an event in Thrissur on Wednesday. Photo Credit: Special arrangement.

Meanwhile, the Agri Business Incubator (ABI) of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) organised a 'merit day' to honour students who demonstrated academic excellence in the agriculture and food sector, State-level award-winning entrepreneurs, and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) for their outstanding achievements.

T. Sajitha Rani, Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Kerala Agricultural University, was the chief guest at the function organised on Wednesday. It was presided over by K. Surendran Gopal, Dean, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara. The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the significant role played by the Agri Business Incubator in supporting farmers in their transition from agricultural production to value addition, entrepreneurship and market development.

Dr. While additionally facilitating opportunities for their products in domestic and international markets and strengthening market linkages, sajitha Rani highlighted that the Agri Business Incubator has been playing a model role by providing farmers, entrepreneurs and FPOs with training, technical backing, entrepreneurial guidance, incubation and mentoring.

Binoo P. Bonny, Director of Extension, KAU, outlined the various initiatives undertaken by the university for strengthening FPOs. She remarked the university is giving priority to capacity building, training, technical backing, entrepreneurship development and market linkages for FPOs. According to She further, initiatives such as the FPO Linkage Programme are strengthening connections between FPOs, markets and relevant institutions. Such interventions, she continued, have a crucial role in transforming farmer collectives into robust and sustainable agricultural enterprises.

K. P. Sudheer, Professor and Head, Agri Business Incubator, remarked the recognition received by enterprises and FPOs backed by the ABI at the State level is a solid testimony to the effectiveness and impact of its interventions. He highlighted the achievement of Juz Crush, a fruit and vegetable processing enterprise. It has utilised backing received through RKVY-RAFTAAR and the PMFME Common Incubation Facility to strengthen the processing and marketing of value-added products and successfully export its products to various countries. He observed that Juz Crush is an excellent example of how value addition to agricultural produce can create enhanced income opportunities for farmers while connecting Kerala's agri-food processing sector with international markets.

Dr. As a beneficiary of the ABI's training, capacity-building and entrepreneurship backing initiatives, sudheer additionally highlighted PALA Santhom Factory FPO, recipient of the State-level award for the best FPO. The FPO has created notable progress in organising farmers through collective action and strengthening value addition, enterprise development and market linkages for their agricultural produce.

As part of the merit day celebrations, Devika K. R. And Nandana P. M., rank-holders of the PG Diploma in Food Industry Management and Quality Control, were honoured for their academic excellence.

Taken together, the developments around kerala Agricultural University Agri Business Incubator honours academic achievers, award point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.