Women agripreneurs leading the way

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, organised a day-long ‘Awareness on Agripreneurship- cum-Exhibition for Farm Women’ in Ludhiana on Tuesday.

The objective of the event was to create awareness among farm women and women entrepreneurs regarding entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors and use of digital media for upscaling and promoting their enterprise, an official release said.

More than 350 farm women and women agripreneurs from all the 23 districts of Punjab participated in the event held in collaboration with PAMETI, Ludhiana and Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare, Punjab at PAMETI, Ludhiana, PAU Campus. Around 20 women agripreneurs from different districts of Punjab exhibited variety of products like pickles, masalas, honey, handmade jwellery and kantha dresses, crochet bags, muffins, cake, printed suits, candies, amla products, painted suits, phulkari dupatta, jam, squash, murrabba, chutneys, soap, candle, hair oil, millets cookies and other millet products, moringa powder, cocopeat, vermicompost, planters and nursery products and jute bags. During interaction, the exhibitors were informed how they can upscale and promote their enterprise using digital media platform and support of the government at the Centre and State.

Ms. Bharti Madan, Deputy Director, PAMETI, Ludhiana gave an overview of the program. Dr. Veenita Kumari, Deputy Director (Gender Studies), MANAGE, Hyderabad delivered the Welcome Address. Chief Guest of the event, S R Ingle, Joint Director (Extension), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, in his address highlighted the significance of G20 side and main events and gave an overview of the G20 events organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.

He noted that at present women constitute only 14 per cent of the total entrepreneurship in India and focused on the need of proper marketing strategy and labelling of the products for upscaling their infrastructure. He also talked about how Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme of the MoA&FW, Govt. of India can benefit these women entrepreneurs to establish and upscale their primary & secondary processing units and emphasised on the benefits of FPOs formation for enhancing their enterprises.

Davinder Singh, Cluster Head, Ludhiana talked about NABARD Initiatives for promoting women entrepreneurship. Dr. Ramandeep Singh, Prof & Head, School of Business Studies shared knowledge on effective marketing strategies for women entrepreneurs.

Dr. Veenita Kumari, Deputy Director (Gender Studies), MANAGE, Hyderabad created awareness among the participants on digital marketing for branding and promotion of their enterprise and briefed about the agripreneurship programme for women.

Dr. MIS Gill, Director, PAMETI, Ludhiana on the occasion addressed the participants and said that women empowerment is crucial for enhancing decision making capability of the women. He also appreciated the products displayed by the women entrepreneurs in the exhibition and suggested that packaging and labelling of their products should be of world class for better price.

Dr. R K Dhaliwal, Dean, College of Agriculture, in her address mentioned that farm women and women agripreneurs should enhance their decision-making ability through self-empowerment with money, education and skill. She further said that they must use their experiences and upscale their entrepreneurial skills.

Distinguished subject experts delivered talk on the occasion to create awareness among farm women & women entrepreneurs. Dr. Poonam Sachdev, Head, Dept. of Food Science & Technology, PAU discussed how women can promote their enterprise in Food Sector.

Progressive women entrepreneurs including Gurdev Kaur Deol from Global SHG, Pooja Rikhi from Kneatknit and Sukhwinder Kaur from Jeet SHG shared their experience on entrepreneurial journey and motivated other women participants on use of digital and social media for growing their enterprise.