MSc

Agri Business Incubators (ABIs), the institutionalized mechanisms which are involved in supporting entrepreneurship, were pioneered in India by International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in partnership with Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2003. This was further strengthened by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which started 10 ABIs in 2008-09 and an additional 12 ABIs in 2013-14. The performance analysis of the ABIs of Kerala in entrepreneurship development was studied with the objectives of delineating the types of ABIs based on their organizational structure, functions, roles and compared the products, technologies and services developed from ABIs. It also analyzed the performance of enterprises facilitated in ABI-units and delineated the challenges faced by ABIs in supporting the entrepreneurs.

A total sample size of 50 registered entrepreneurs and 12 officials from six ABI-units of Kerala were selected using random sampling technique. The ABI-units in Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod; Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram; Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi; Coconut Development Board (CDB), Kochi; Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode and ABI-unit in Kerala Agriculture University (KAU), Tavanur were selected for the present study. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of six successful enterprises facilitated by the ABIs for detailed Case Study.

The results of profile of registered entrepreneurs in ABIs showed that the majority (58%) of the respondents were of middle age group (36-50 years) and 62 per cent of them had technical education. Self-confidence (86.52), achievement motivation (78.66), innovativeness (82.93), leadership ability (81.59) motivation to join ABIs (85.33) were rated high among dimensions of entrepreneurial behavior. Majority (56%) joined ABIs in nascent stage of enterprise and maximum (28 per cent) enterprises were facilitated by Technology Mission on Coconut (TMOC) scheme.

The study on types of ABIs based on organizational structure showed that the ABI-units in CPCRI, CTCRI, CIFT and IISR had predominant ‘Entrepreneurial’ structure. However, CDB incubator and ABI unit in KAU had predominant ‘Missionary’ and



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‘Professional’ structure respectively. Based on functions, the ABI units of CPCRI, CTCRI, CIFT, IISR and KAU were delineated as ‘Technology Incubators’ and CDB was identified as ‘Economic Development Incubator’. All the six ABIs were delineated as ‘University Business Incubators’ (UBIs) based on their roles.

The study on products, technologies and services supported in ABIs indicated that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) by dry processing, coconut chips by osmotic dehydration were developed in ABI-units of CPCRI and CDB. Fried snack foods and pasta from cassava through extrusion technology were supported in ABI-unit of CTCRI. Dry fish by solar drying, coated fish products by extrusion technology were supported in CIFT. White pepper through bacterial fermentation technology and spice powders with processing facility were supported in IISR. Tender jack fruit packaging through retort pouch technology was supported in KAU-ABI unit.

The study on the performance of ABIs revealed that the ABI-units in CPCRI and IISR were established in 2013 with 27 and 30 entrepreneurs respectively in business. The ABI-unit in CTCRI was established in 2014 from which 62 entrepreneurs were in business. The ABI-unit of CIFT in Cochin was established in 2009 from which 65 entrepreneurs were running enterprises. The ABI-unit in CDB was established in 1981, in which 70 entrepreneurs were currently in business. The ABI-unit of KAU was established in 2013 from which 35 entrepreneurs were facilitated into business. The performance of the enterprises facilitated by ABIs were also assessed through break even analysis.

The officials in the ABIs perceived geographic location of establishment, inconsistency in stakeholder support and lack of funding as the major challenges in supporting the entrepreneurs. Coconut chips venture by Sibi Mathew, supported from ABI-CPCRI, the tubers venture by Mrs. Rajashree, Alappuzha, facilitated from ABI-CTCRI, M/S Charis foods, Aroor by Mrs. Omana, guided from CIFT, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) processing unit in Keratech oil manufacturing company, Thrissur, by CDB, ‘Mannil spices’, Kozhikode supported by ABI-IISR and ‘Artrocarpus foods’, Kannur by Subash Koroth, facilitated by KAU-ABI were the successful enterprises presented as case studies.