The innovative attempt by an IT professional-turned agripreneur from Kannur to commercialize cashew sprouts to overcome the adversity posed by the pandemic - which rendered hundreds of kilograms of unsold cashew getting sprouted during monsoon - has been selected by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) and it will be featured in the 75 success stories of micro food processing enterprises across the country. "This is the story of an IT professional-turned agripreneur who turned a major setback into an opportunity of a lifetime," said MOFPI while portraying the enterprise Eatery Malabarikas, founded by Kannur native Brijith Krishna, in the ministry's online campaign held to mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign. The firm, founded in November 2020, has diversified its value-added cashew offerings to include cashew sprout pickles, cashew sprout soup, cashew sprout biscuits and many other products under 'Kajusprouty' brand. The firm achieved a financial turnover of Rs 14 lakh for FY 2020-21. "The reception to our products has been good, especially sprouted cashew pickle and soup. We are also exporting sprouted cashew to the UAE. We are delighted to be selected as a success story among micro food processing enterprises by MOFPI," Krishna said. Krishna - who lost his job following the pandemic and was left with three quintals of unsold cashew grown in his homestead which was sprouting during monsoon - started selling the sprouted cashew (germinated cashew nut cotyledons). Though people had traditionally used the sprouts of mazhayandi (fallen cashew nuts which get sprouted in rains) at many places for curries, it is the first attempt in state to commercialize cashew sprouts. Krishna said that sprouted cashew was unique for having 13 essential amino acids which is rare in vegan food. Also, he was able to overcome the twin challenges of increasing germination of cashew nuts from 90 days to up to 360 days thereby ensuring year-round availability of produce and also increasing the shelf life of products. The enterprise was earlier selected by the agri business incubation centre of Kerala Agricultural University and the prototype idea had received incubation support from Promotion of Agriculture through Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.