Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has initiated steps to establish agribusiness incubators (ABI) under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-funded Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAR) scheme.
The project proposal submitted by the KAU has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Agricultural Development and Farmers’ Welfare. Estimated to cost ₹2.33 crore, it will be implemented on the KAU main campus at Vellanikkara under the Directorate of Extension. The centre at the KAU is one of the four RAFTAR centres in South India, coordinated by MANAGE (National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management), Hyderabad, as knowledge partner.
KAU Vice Chancellor R. Chandra Babu said here on Tuesday that KAU scientists would attend the national innovation, incubation and innovation workshop — SAMARTH — organised by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare during February 11-13 to launch RAFTAR–ABI. The ABI centre at the KAU will be a fillip to accelerate economic development in the State, said Dr. Chandra Babu.
“RAFTAR–ABI will be a premier incubation centre for post-harvest technology research with cost-effective systems for agricultural commodities, especially fruits and vegetables,” he said.
K.P. Sudheer, ICAR National Fellow and Professor at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, will be the head of the proposed incubation centre.
The thrust area of KAU RAFTAR-ABI is post-harvest technology. As per the proposal, the KAU targets to incubate four ventures each and commercialise two products each in the next two years under the programme. The goals also include establishment of eight start-ups, equipping six service providers, graduate four ventures and provide internship for the start-ups.
“The centre will promote economically viable start-ups and develop gender-friendly processing equipment to facilitate drudgery- free opportunities,” said Jiju P. Alex, Director of Extension.