Agricultural Development and Farmers Welfare Department, Govt. of Kerala has sanctioned an Agro-Processing Training cum incubation Centre (APTIC) at a cost of Rs.70 lakhs to ICAR-KVK, Alappuzha. The foundation stone for the centre was laid by Adv. V.S Sunil Kumar, Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala on 23rd November 2018. Speaking at the function minister said there is a huge potential for value addition of coconut other agricultural produces. The meeting was presided over by Adv.U.Prathibha, Hon.MLA Kayamkulam, who appreciated the efforts of KVK-Alappuzha for taking up farmer friendly activities. Dr. P.Muralidharan, Principal Scientist and Head, KVK Alappuzha briefed an overview of the programme and pointed out incubation centre would help to mould the farmers and youth as entrepreneurs with modern technologies and machineries. Dr. P.Chowdappa, Director, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, Dr.M.J.Chandre Gowda, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Bangalore, Mr. K.K Anil Kumar, Muncipal Councilor, Kayamkulam, Mr. N.Sukumara Pillai, Vice chairman, Onattukara Development Agency, Smt.Beena Natesan, Principal Agriculture Officer, Alappuzha, Smt.Faseela Beegam, Project Director, ATMA, Dr.V.Krishnakumar, Head, ICAR-CPCRI (R.S), Kayamkulam and other dignitaries spoke on the inaugural session.
A seminar cum Farmer-Scientist interface on value addition for doubling farmer’s income was conducted and was led by Dr.M.S Sanjeev, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI, Sreekariam, Dr.M.R Manikantan, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod, Mrs.Elizabeth Joseph, Assistant Professor, KVK, Kottayam. Display and sale of value added food products by KVK trained entrepreneurs was also organized on the day.
