Kufos, Kitco tie up to promote entrepreneurship in Kerala

A Centre for Advanced Training will help students formulate ideas in aquaculture, fish feed formulation and food processing

Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) and Kerala Industrial Training and Consultancy Organisation (Kitco) have joined hands to promote entrepreneurial initiatives among students.

In a joint collaboration, Kufos will launch a Centre for Advanced Training in Entrepreneurship Development on its campus this month. The centre would support startups and promote innovations in fisheries, ocean resources, agri business and rural industries.

An action plan in this regard was finalised at a meeting, held at the university, between Kufos led by its vice chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup and Kitco.

Kufos will provide necessary technology and infrastructure facilities to Kitco to begin the centre, which will focus on former's students at the initial stage.

The centre will act as a single-window for disseminating relevant information, technological support and training to the stakeholders.

The existing facilities of the varsity and its regional centres will be upgraded to assist in establishing startup villages for effective implementation of viable projects incubated at the centre.

The centre will support students to involve actively in the process of enhancing aquaculture production and to become entrepreneurs.

It will also help students formulate innovative ideas in areas, including value addition, seed production, various aquaculture activities, food processing, fish feed formulation, and consultancy services.

The vice chancellor said the objective of the proposed centre was to develop entrepreneurship skills among the students and other stakeholders in fisheries and allied sectors by providing direct and virtual incubation, protection and management of intellectual assets.

Cyriac David, managing director of Kitco, said the initiative would help the university develop a model centre by introducing latest entrepreneurship programmes and facilities.

"Kitco will provide mentoring programmes to Kufos faculties and students ahead of the launch of the centre on how to utilise the facilities at the centre. A department-wise training would also be given to students to develop soft skills and additional skills," he said.

The centre will have facilities for testing vegetables and food products.

"It will also focus on formulating fish feeds. The locally-manufactured feed would lead to a substantial reduction in the prices besides helping farmers manage low-budget fish culture," said the vice chancellor.