Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has initiated steps to establish agri business incubators under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana funded Remunerative Approches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAR) scheme.

The project proposal submitted by KAU has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Agricultural Development and Farmers’ Welfare.

The project, amounting to ₹2.33 crore, will be implemented at the KAU main campus, Vellanikkara, under the Directorate of Extension.

The centre at KAU is one of the four RAFTAR centres in South India, coordinated by the Hyderabad based MANAGE as knowledge partner.

KAU Vice-Chancellor R Chandra Babu said that the university scientists will attend the national innovation, incubation and innovation workshop — SAMARTH — organised by Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers’ Welfare from February 11-13 to launch the RAFTAR agri-business incubator. The centre at KAU will help accelerate economic development in the State.

RAFTAR is intended to promote innovation and agri entrepreneurship. The state funded incubator in KAU has developed many innovative protocols to cater to the needs of emerging food processing sector. The dominance of commercial and horticulture crops in the cropping pattern offers a vast scope for agribusiness opportunities in the State.

The potential of the rural food processing industry is yet to be explored and exploited in the State. The RAFTAR incubator in KAU will enhance the opportunities and support for enterprising youth venturing into agri business.

It will be a premier incubation centre for post-harvest technology research with cost-effective systems for agricultural commodities, especially fruits and vegetables.

The thrust area of the KAU RAFTAR agri-business incubator is post-harvest technology. Per the proposal, KAU targets to incubate four ventures each and commercialise two products each in the next two years under the programme.

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