Workshop on Entrepreneurship Development and Business Plan Competition

THRISSUR: Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Dr P. Rajendran inaugurated a workshop on ‘Entrepreneurship Development and Business Plan Competition’ for Students of South Indian Universities. This workshop was jointly organized by the National Academy for Agriculture Research Management (Hyderabad), Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Kerala), Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Kerala Agricultural University on Friday at Thrissur.

Dr Rajendran emphasized the need for convergence of technology and entrepreneurship to facilitate emergence of start-up ventures in the agriculture sector.Value addition, precision fertilizer usage, and food processing were the sectors that could generate more entrepreneurs in agriculture and allied sectors he pointed out. The programme would change the mindset of students towards the entrepreneurial ecosystem and develop self confidence among them, he added..

Director of Entrepreneurship, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,  Dr  T.P. Sethumadhavan in his  keynote address said that as growth in agriculture GDP was coming down, promotion of agribusiness innovations was the need of the hour.

A project on ‘Developing bio mosquito repellent from  turmeric leaf oil extracts by steam distillation’ was presented attheworkshop. 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 teams.

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.