Kerala Agricultural University and TiE Kerala Host AGRICON 2026 to Promote Farm Tech

More than six hundred people gathered at the Kerala Agricultural University campus in Thrissur on World Food Day for the AGRICON 2026 event. The university and TiE Kerala jointly organized the programme, which brought together cultivators, startup founders, investors, researchers, and technology experts.

Discussions And Key Addresses

University Vice-Chancellor T. Sajitha Rani inaugurated the event and stated that farming development helps reduce poverty while securing food supplies. She added that young people moving back from foreign jobs to start agricultural businesses show that the sector holds high potential for sustainable earnings. Keynote speaker Sivadas B. Menon urged people to treat farming as a business venture rather than just a basic livelihood. He stated that closer teamwork among researchers and business owners is needed to bring laboratory ideas out into real fields. Chethana Formulations Managing Director Damodar Avanoor spoke about the value of processing crops into different products to improve market earnings for growers. ESAF Small Finance Bank chief K. Paul Thomas called for stronger ties between growers, new companies, and banks. KAU Extension Director Binoo P. Bonny explained the university's work in pushing for grower businesses, while Agri Business Incubator head K.P. Sudheer pointed out that food safety and nutrition must grow alongside sheer production volume. The event held talks on turning farms into enterprises, upgrading machinery, and applying research to commercial markets.

Context

World Food Day is observed globally every October to raise awareness about hunger and food security challenges. University-backed incubators like the one at Kerala Agricultural University typically help early-stage businesses by offering guidance, workspace, and technical mentorship to turn ideas into viable products.