A. Bijukumar Vice Chancellor, KUFOS with Shafi Mather, Chairman of Mas Sports and Leisure Private Limited and Dinesh Kaippilly, Registrar, KUFOS after signing the MoU.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies has entered into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative in fish farming and value-added fishery products.
The MoU with Mas Sports and Leisure Private Limited to launch collaboration seeks to blend scientific expertise with industry experience to support innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth in the fisheries sector.
Under the MoU, fish farming facilities will be developed at Edayar and Kakkarnad in Ernakulam district. The partnership will also work together on fish processing, value addition and marketing, while creating meaningful learning opportunities for KUFOS students through training, internships and hands-on field exposure. The agreement, valid for five years, reflects KUFOS’s commitment to working closely with industry to strengthen skills, livelihoods and sustainable aquaculture practices in Kerala, said a press release.
The initiative envisions a holistic campus where sports and cultural activities for children and youth are seamlessly integrated with agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry and other allied activities. Thousands of young people will be trained in various sports disciplines, while their daily food requirements will be met through produce grown and harvested within the campus itself.
Indigenous cattle will be reared to meet milk requirements, while poultry and duck farming units will provide meat. The land will also support the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, and fish will be sourced from ponds and advanced aquaculture systems developed on site. A special focus will be placed on adding value to harvested fish, drawing on the scientific and technical expertise of KUFOS.
Once realised, the initiative is expected to stand out as a unique model in Kerala that brings together education, sustainability, sports and livelihoods in a single ecosystem.
Beyond infrastructure and innovation, the project promises to create substantial employment opportunities, offering meaningful work to thousands of skilled and semi-skilled youth and contributing positively to the social and economic fabric of the region.
Published on January 18, 2026
