Workshop on Entrepreneurship Development Programme and Business Plan Competition

Mannuthy, 26 August, 2016. Dr P. Rajendran (Vice Chancellor, KAU) inaugurated a sensitization workshop on ‘Entrepreneurship Development and Business Plan Competition for Students of South Indian Universities’, jointly organised by the National Academy for Agriculture Research Management (Hyderabad), Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kerala),Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and Kerala Agricultural University at Thrissur, and emphasized the need of convergence of technology and entrepreneurship to facilitate emergence of start-up ventures in the agriculture sector. Dr Rajendran said value addition, precision fertilizer usage, and food processing were the sectors that could generate more entrepreneurs in agriculture and allied sectors. Dr Rajendran added that the programme would change the mindset of students towards the entrepreneurial ecosystem and develop self confidence among students to become successful entrepreneurs.

Dr T.P. Sethumadhavan (Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU) deliberated keynote address and said that as growth in agriculture GDP was coming down, promotion of agribusiness innovations was the need of the hour

The project on ‘Developing bio mosquito repellent from the turmeric leaf oils extracts by steam distillation’ was presented.The Kerala Agricultural University students bagged National Innovation Awards for best entrepreneur. Cash awards of Rs. 10,000/- and Rs 5000/- and certificates were given to the winning team.

Students from College of Corporation Banking and Management, KAU won the first prize. A total of 130 students from six universities participated in the workshop. Of the 49 entries registered for the Business Plan Competition 18 teams were selected and of which awards were given to best two business plans.