Six agri-based startups incubated at Kerala Agricultural University’s (KAU) RAFTAAR Agri-Business Incubator are set to be recognised at a national event in New Delhi on July 8. These ventures were developed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) scheme.
The event, which will be chaired by the RKVY Advisor, is expected to bring together several innovation-led farm startups from across India. The programme aims to acknowledge the work being done through incubators funded by the RKVY-RAFTAAR initiative. Kerala’s contingent is being led by K P Sudheer, who heads the KAU Agri-Business Incubator and is known for mentoring the State’s agri-startup ecosystem.
Among the ventures being recognised are some distinctly local but forward-looking ideas. Dr Jackfruit India, started by Manas Madhu, has been rebranding banana chips with an international twist under the label 'Beyond Snacks', taking Kerala’s kitchen staple into global snack aisles.
Another one, Zaphon Repurpose, led by Saji Varghese, is crafting eco-friendly drinking straws from coconut leaves. Marketed under the brand 'Sunbird Straws', the product is trying to find a spot in the global anti-plastic movement.
TMJ Foods, founded by T J Thankachan, has developed a vitamin D2-enriched health drink made from mushrooms — a product that blends food science with nutritional gaps common in everyday diets.
The three other ventures on the list include Eatery Malabarikas, Swojas Farms, and Bio-Arya Vedic Naturals, each working on niche agricultural products and value-added food segments.
The details of their offerings weren’t shared officially, but they’re understood to be tapping into regional food practices with a tech-driven or sustainable edge.