T. Sajitha Rani, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University
Strengthening efforts to transform Kerala’s local produce into value-added products and effectively market them can significantly enhance farmers’ income and stimulate the rural economy, T. Sajitha Rani, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, has said.She was inaugurating a training programme organised by the KAU Agri Business Incubator (ABI) in collaboration with the Palakkad Poverty Alleviation Programme.The Vice Chancellor emphasised that small-scale entrepreneurs, farmers, and women entrepreneurs in rural areas should take the lead in converting locally available resources into value-added products and bringing them to the market, thereby creating sustainable employment opportunities and improving rural livelihoods.The KAU Agri Business Incubator plays a pivotal role in taking Kerala’s indigenous products to global markets by leveraging modern technologies, quality standards, and efficient market linkages, she said.The programme was chaired by K. Surendra Gopal, Dean, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara.As part of the programme, the Vice Chancellor also flagged off the sixth export consignment of value-added food products processed at the KAU Common Incubation Facility (CIF) to the UAE. The shipment marks the resumption of exports following the temporary disruption in cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz caused by the conflict in the West Asian region.K. P. Sudheer, Head of the KAU Agri Business Incubator, said that the primary objective of the Incubator is to enhance farmers’ and entrepreneurs’ incomes while establishing a stronger global presence for Kerala’s value-added agricultural products.The training programme was attended by beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation Programme, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other stakeholders.Published on July 10, 2026
