KAU-ABI Launches Incubation Centre, Boosts Farm Exports to GCC

Rapid Summary

• Kerala Agricultural University’s (KAU) Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Common Incubation Center and flagged off India’s first international agri export from a university-based agribusiness incubator.
• The facility was established under the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, with 60:40 Centre-State funding.
• Inauguration took place on August 12, 2025, attended by P.Rajeeve, Minister for Law, Industries & Coir; and K.Rajan, Minister for Revenue.
• This modern facility has processing lines for spices, rice, coconut, millets; fruits/vegetables and advanced laboratories for quality control analysis to support entrepreneurs and farmers in creating value-added products.
• Kerala is one of the few States to meet PMFME targets; food parks integrated with universities are planned to drive further innovation in food processing.
• the inaugural export was executed by M/s Nouka Enterprises to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries featuring fruit beverages, cookies, honey-based products among others-manufactured entirely within this incubator system.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The launch of KAU’s Common Incubation Centre marks an vital milestone combining agriculture with enterprise development through sustainable models like academic partnerships via government schemes such like – GCC market Models innovation rather direct bureaucratically read more