The College of Agriculture Vellayani hosted the Agro-Industrial Conclave 2025 on 17th March 2025 for the 2021 admission RAWE (Rural Agricultural Work Experience) students. The event commenced with a welcome address delivered by Dr. Esakkimuthu M., Assistant Professor and Module Leader, who set the stage for an engaging and insightful session.
Dr. Allan Thomas, Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension Education, gave the keynote address. He provided a comprehensive introduction to the RAWE program, sharing his personal experiences as the former module leader of the Agro-Industrial module. Dr. Thomas emphasized the importance of the program in fostering skill development and creating employment opportunities for students in the agricultural sector.
Dr. P Sethuraman, Principal Scientist at ICAR CTCRI, felicitated the event and shared valuable insights on the challenges and struggles faced by entrepreneurs in the agricultural industry. He discussed the significance of understanding these experiences while building a startup or business, encouraging students to take risks and explore opportunities in agriculture.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Devika Rajan, the student representative, who expressed gratitude to all the speakers and participants.
The conclave featured an interactive session with leading experts from the agro-industry. *Ashvin Shawn Philip*, Founder and CEO of WEFA Trade Links, shared his experience in the honey industry, highlighting key challenges such as adulteration, improper beekeeping practices, and climate change. He also emphasized the importance of market demand and sales channels, and discussed solutions for strengthening bee survival, educating beekeepers, and expanding bee colonies in rural areas.
Prithvi Ullas, UAV Engineer at Fuselage Innovations, introduced two innovative drones, Nireeksh and designed to address issues like pest attacks, water scarcity, and soil fertility. These drones use cutting-edge technology to capture data and provide solutions for farmers, helping them manage pests and improve agricultural productivity.
Thanveer Ahmed, CEO of Uptown Urban Farm, shared the journey of his company, which was launched in 2019 as a network of small hydroponics farms. His company not only focuses on sustainable farming practices but also provides a market for hydroponic products. Rohit K, COO of Uptown Urban Farms, engaged with the students, discussing his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges faced while launching the company.
The session culminated in a vibrant discussion where the entrepreneurs shared their motivations, funding strategies, and challenges in launching their products. Dr. Sethuraman concluded the conclave by motivating the students to consider agriculture as a potential field of focus and to pursue entrepreneurship in the future. He also highlighted the incubation services provided by CTCRI to support aspiring entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.
The Agro-Industrial Conclave 2025 proved to be a great platform for students to learn from industry experts and gain practical insights into agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation.
