Agri food products getting ready to ship from the newly opened Common Incubation Centre of Kerala Agricultural Universtiy.
In a significant stride towards fostering agripreneurship and food innovation, Kerala Agricultural University has established the Common Incubation Centre at the KAU Raftaar Agri Business Incubator in Vellanikkara, Thrissur.
The facility, which is to be inaugurated on August 12, has been set up under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in which the Ministry has given ₹2.75 crore.
P Rajeeve, State Industries Minister, will formally launch the centre and K Rajan, Revenue Minister, will deliver the presidential address.
Empowering start-ups
B Ashok, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, emphasised the role of the Common Incubation Centre in empowering early-stage agripreneurs and food start-ups. The new facility offers industry-grade infrastructure for processing, packaging, and scaling innovative agri-food products. “It reflects our broader mission to blend education with innovation, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning—core tenets of the National Education Policy (NEP),” he said.
A major highlight of the inaugural event will be the flag-off of the first international agri-food export consignment from KAU ABI to GCC countries which comprises value-added products from fruits and vegetables, beverages, dry fruits developed by Nouka Enterprises using the incubation facilities.
KP Sudheer, Professor and Principal Investigator of the PMFME programme at KAU said the centre is a historic first for any university-based Agri Business Incubator in India. The centre is more than just an export but a landmark moment for university-led entrepreneurship and global trade integration. It exemplifies KAU’s commitment to connecting agriculture, innovation, and commerce, he added.
The initiative also aligns with the Kerala government’s vision to establish industrial parks in collaboration with academic institutions, positioning KAU as a pioneering model for integrated food systems and innovation-led enterprise development..
Published on August 11, 2025
