KOCHI, 28 January 2024: The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has opened to the public a new sales counter offering farm-fresh, quality produce directly sourced from farmer groups within and outside Kerala.
Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, Director of CMFRI, inaugurated the counter which runs under the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of the institute
Consumers will find an extensive selection of healthy food products, including staples like pokkali rice, millets from Karnataka, spices, honey, gourd powder, tapioca products, value additions of jack fruit, home-made sweets, pickles and oils. The counter also features a variety of seafood, including cleaned and dried fish, mussels, and tuna products. The counter will remain open from 10am to 7pm on all working days.
Unique highlights include nutraceutical products developed by CMFRI from seaweeds to combat lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, arthritis and hypertension, as well as locally sourced specialties like Lakshadweep coconut oil, tuna products and vinegar. Additionally, the counter offers value-added products like chocolate, cashew drinks and cashew jam from the Kerala Agricultural University, and high-quality spices like cardamom, black pepper and turmeric powder with elevated curcumin content from the Spices Board. Varieties like coconut chips and other products of the Coconut Development Board are also available.
This initiative provides consumers with direct access to fresh, healthy food products while supporting local farmers.
For small farmers and urban families, organic inputs like vermicompost and biofertliizers, vegetable seeds are also available for kitchen gardening.
Produces of farmer groups and entrepreneurs associated with the institutions like Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) Veterinary University, and Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) are available in the sales counter.
Photo caption: Director Dr A Gopalarkrishnan at CMFRI’s newly opened sales counter.