Share This Article :

ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized a three days Capacity building programme and hands on training on “Entrepreneurship and Skill Development in Millet based Value Added Products (VAPs)” during 22-24 May 2025. The main objective of the training programme was to provide hands-on training, technical-know-how about the operation, modalities and scientific knowledge on value addition and enhanced shelf life of millet-based products, promoting the women farmers to move to becoming entrepreneurs thus making themselves sustainable both economically and socially. A total of 25 women farmers from the established CHCs from Balipatana block of Khordha District under the Shree Anna (Millet) Gram project implemented during the International Millet Year, 2023.
The inaugural programme was held on 22.05.2025. At the outset, Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA and Course Director, of the programme, welcomed all trainees to the programme. She explained about the role of ICAR-CIWA in promoting the agri-preneurship for better tomorrow and how the millet is shaping the future of women farmers with its growing demand. She also highlighted the importance of FPOs which also plays a significant role in upliftment of women farmers with smaller land holdings.
Dr. Lipi Das, Principal Scientist and Course Coordinator highlighted about the Millet Village Programme started during 2023 in Khordha and Keonjhar districts with a broader objective of promoting millets production in adopted villages through improved production technologies, processing and value addition involving farm women. She also told about the different approaches for developing women entrepreneurship for self and family sustenance.
Dr. Sachidananda Swain, Senior Scientist imparted hands-on training millet based products etc where trainees were provided with raw materials for product development and its packaging through systematic learning, operation and maintenance of equipment along with Smt. Geeta Saha. He also imparted training along with Er. Pragati Kishore Rout to the beneficiaries on the utility of drudgery reducing tools for better work efficiency, other than just field work but also at production level, that may ignite passion among the participants to excel towards entrepreneurship.
A drone demonstration was also done by government approved Drone Didi, Smt Kumudini Swain, who has been a role model for her counterpart women towards development self-reliance and social upliftment though her ventures.
The stakeholders during the training of the women farmers were NABARD, FSSAI, OUAT, DIC, Indian Institute of Packaging, Hyderabad along with ICAR-CIWA dedicating expertise for providing technical know-how and hands on training to empower women through millet farming and millet-based value added products.
During the valedictory programme certificates were distributed to the participants for successful completion of the training programme. The programme was facilitated by Er. Pragati Kishore Rout and Atul Chetan Hemrom.
https://www.icar-ciwa.org.in/index.php/fortabevents/714-ciwa-cbp-may24
Related Posts
No Thoughts on Capacity Building Programme on Entrepreneurship and Skill Development in Millet-based Value Added Products (VAPs)