6 days ago
Minister inaugurates Centrally-funded Common Incubation Centre for coconut value-addition at TNAU
The Centrally-funded Common Incubation Centre (CIC) for processing coconut products was commissioned at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, by M. Anbarasan, State Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), on Friday.
The CIC functioning out of the Department of Food Process Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, on the TNAU campus is envisaged to play a supportive role for coconut farmers, Food Processing Organisations, NGOs, and start-ups on custom-hiring basis.
M. Balakrishnan, Professor and Head, Department of Food Process Engineering, TNAU, Coimbatore, explained and demonstrated various processing lines of coconut products to the Minister and senior officials.
Atul Anand, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, MSME Department; L. Nirmal Raj, Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce; and R. Thamizh Vendan, Registrar and Acting Vice- Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore, took part.
The State Level Technical Institute (SLTI) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, are the State Nodal Agency (SNA) of PMFME Scheme.
At another function, the TNAU signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Food and Biotech Industries.
The Biotech Council for Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology (CoEB) in the university fosters research and development activities under public-private partnership mode to develop super active enzymes/biomolecules, biobased products, hormones for fruit ripening, plant growth stimulants and similar bio-inputs for the commercial benefit of farmers. Prof. Thamizh Vendan said the MoA was signed with two established companies: M/s. Pechi Foods Private Limited, Coimbatore, and M/s. Innogreen India Marketing, Madurai, for facilitating the knowledge space to develop research activities.
