Women entrepreneurs leading the way towards agripreneurship in Punjab

Women entrepreneurs leading the way towards agripreneurship in Punjab
During interaction, the women exhibitors were informed how they can upscale and promote their enterprise using digital media platform and support of the government at the Centre and the state

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India and National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad organised a one-day ‘Awareness on Agripreneurship cum Exhibition for Farm Women’ in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), Ludhiana and Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare, Punjab at PAMETI, PAU (Punjab Agriculture University) campus on Tuesday. The objective of the event was to create awareness among farm women and women entrepreneurs regarding entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture & allied sectors and the use of digital media for upscaling and promoting their enterprises. More than 350 farm women and women agripreneurs from all 23 districts of Punjab participated in the event.

An exhibition was also displayed by around 20 women agripreneurs from different districts of Punjab. The event started with the inauguration of the exhibition displayed by the women entrepreneurs. The women exhibited a variety of products like pickles, masalas, honey, handmade jewellery 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, jute bags among other farm-based products. During the interaction, the exhibitors were informed how they can upscale and promote their enterprise using digital media platforms and the support of the government at the Centre and the state.

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Bharti Madan, Deputy Director, PAMETI, Ludhiana gave an overview of the programme. Dr. Veenita Kumari, Deputy Director (Gender Studies), MANAGE, Hyderabad delivered the welcome address.

Chief Guest of the event, SR 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. He further mentioned that at present women constitute only 14 per cent of the total entrepreneurship in India. He focused on the need for a proper marketing strategy and labelling of the products for upscaling their infrastructure. He also talked about how Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme of the MoA&FW, Govt. of India can benefit these women entrepreneurs to establish and upscale their primary and secondary processing units. He further emphasised 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 them about the agripreneurship programme for women.

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

Dr. RK 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.

Subject experts delivered talks on the occasion to create awareness among farm women and women entrepreneurs. Dr. Poonam Sachdev, Head, Deptt. of Food Science & Technology, PAU discussed how women can promote their enterprise in the food sector.

A few progressive women entrepreneurs – Gurdev Kaur Deol from Global SHG, Pooja Rikhi from Kneatknit and Sukhwinder Kaur from Jeet SHG shared their experiences on their entrepreneurial journey and also motivated other women participants on the use of digital and social media for growing their enterprise.

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