Mandya Workshop Focuses on Empowering Women Through Agricultural Value Addition
A comprehensive workshop dedicated to the processing and value addition of agricultural produce was successfully conducted at the Mandya zilla panchayat on Wednesday. The event aimed to enhance economic opportunities for women in the agricultural sector.
Deputy Commissioner Stresses Women's Empowerment
Deputy Commissioner Kumara highlighted the critical need to empower women across economic, social, and familial domains. He pointed out that women already hold a pivotal role in agriculture and related activities. By adopting value addition techniques, strategic branding, and robust market linkages, they can significantly boost farmers' incomes.
Strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations
Kumara emphasized the importance of reinforcing Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to give local produce a competitive advantage. He suggested leveraging brands such as ‘Siri Samruddhi’ to enhance market presence. According to him, agriculture becomes a profitable venture when technical expertise is combined with value-adding processes.
Initiatives for Women's Development
Zilla Panchayat CEO KR Nandini detailed various initiatives designed to empower women, including:
- Legal awareness programmes
- FNHW workshops
- Self-defence training sessions
She underscored the vital contributions of ‘Krishi Sakhis’ and ‘Pashu Sakhis’ in these efforts.
Expert Guidance on Processing and Packaging
Experts from CFTRI, Usha Dharmaraj and Revathi Bhaskar, provided valuable insights into processing grains, millets, fruits, and vegetables. They also shared effective packaging techniques to extend the shelf life of agricultural products. Participants were encouraged to disseminate this knowledge by training farmers and women's groups.
Success at Krishi Mela and Entrepreneurial Goals
Nandini noted the successful management of over 60 stalls by the NRLM women's pavilion at the recent Krishi Mela. The core objective of the programme is to transform women from job seekers into job creators, fostering entrepreneurship through processed, branded, and well-packaged agricultural produce.
Event Participation
The workshop saw attendance from key officials, including project director S Sundar Raj, assistant project officer Sriharsha, scientists, and NRLM staff members, all committed to advancing women's roles in agriculture.
