Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has established the common incubation centre at the KAU Raftaar Agri Business Incubator in Vellanikkara, Thrissur. The centre, funded under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, has received ₹2.75 crore from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The facility aims to provide agri-food startups with the necessary infrastructure for processing, packaging, and scaling their products.
The PMFME scheme is a government initiative designed to support food processing enterprises, and the new facility at KAU will play a key role in strengthening the sector in Kerala.
The new common incubation centre is equipped with industry-grade infrastructure, providing early-stage agripreneurs with essential resources to scale their operations. B Ashok, vice-chancellor of KAU, noted that the centre embodies the university’s commitment to combining education with innovation, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning.
One of the notable developments at the centre is the upcoming international agri-food export consignment from KAU Agri Business Incubator to GCC countries. The consignment will include value-added products, such as fruits, vegetables, beverages, and dry fruits, developed by Nouka Enterprises, a startup utilising the incubation facilities.
The Common Incubation Centre marks a milestone for university-led agri-business innovation in India. KP Sudheer, principal investigator of the PMFME programme at KAU, described the centre as a significant development in university-led entrepreneurship and global trade integration. He added that the initiative highlights KAU’s ongoing commitment to connecting agriculture, innovation, and commerce.
The facility also aligns with the Kerala government’s vision of creating industrial parks in collaboration with academic institutions.
