National Webinar on Women FPOs: An Effective Approach for Boosting Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Self-reliance (Atmanirbhar)

10th September, 2020, Bhubaneswar

The ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha and ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Home Science Centre, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan organized a National Webinar on “Women FPOs: An Effective Approach for Boosting Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Self-reliance (Atmanirbhar)” today.

In his keynote address on "Options for increasing entrepreneurship, empowerment and self-reliance among the farm women", the Chief Guest, Dr. Narendra Singh Rathore, Vice-Chancellor, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan emphasized on Farmers’ Producers’ Association and its role on entrepreneurship, empowerment, self-reliance and value-addition. He also accentuated on education, knowledge and skill-based capacity development as essential for empowerment of the farm to start their own ventures to improve their economical and socio-economic status.

In his abstract information on "Construction of Women Farmers Entrepreneurship Producer Associations-A Best Effort”, Dr. P. Chandrasekara, Director General, Ch. Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing, Jaipur, Rajasthan described about 20 essential points required for Construction of Women Farmers’ Entrepreneurship Producer Associations.

Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, Asia Regional Manager, CIP, (CGIAR) stressed on the need to connect the farmers to a value-chain which will help them in becoming agri-entrepreneurs.

Dr. V.V. Sadamate Former Advisor (Agriculture), NITI Aayog, New Delhi stressed on covering the critical areas under the capacity building for FPOs to touch the aspects of business planning to maximize the benefits as well as reduce the business risks and monitoring.

Dr. S.K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar, Odisha urged the research and extension scientists for motivating the stakeholders to step forward and start agro-enterprises by formulating WFPOs.

Dr. Meenu Srivastava, Dean, College of Community and Applied Sciences, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan appreciated the activities carried out under the ICAR-AICRP for Economic Empowerment of Farm Women in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.

Dr. Abhay Kumar Mehta, Director (Research), MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan delivered his welcome address.

Dr. Ranjit Kumar, Head (ABM), ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad emphasized on “Business Planning for Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations”. He also explained the business details, market analysis and product specifications.

Dr. Lipi Das, Principal Scientist & Convener of the Webinar briefed about the main theme of the Webinar.

Around 297 participants participated in the Webinar.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha)