Workshop-cum-Exhibition on “Empowering Women Through Production and Processing of Millets”

8^th – 9^th February 2023, Bhopal

To commemorate the International Year of Millets-2023, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal in association with ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized a workshop-cum-exhibition on “Empowering Women through Production and Processing of Millets” (8-9 February, 2023).

The Chief Guest, Shri Rajeev Choudhary, Director (Agricultural Engineering), Government of Madhya Pradesh shared his experience on how consuming millets had improved his health and hoped that women would come in great numbers to produce and process millets leading to an improvement of the health of the society along with women empowerment.

Dr. CR Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE, briefed about machinery available at the institute for the production and processing of millets as well as value-added products.

Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA said continuous research and dissemination of millet technology would increase the income of women farmers and also provide health benefits.

Information on the genesis and benefits of the workshop for the empowerment of women working in the area of millets was briefed by the Organizing Secretary, Dr. Dipika Agrahar Murugkar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIAE.

During the two-day workshop, technical sessions on millets were organized wherein experts working in the area shared their insight with women farmers.

An exhibition was organized to demonstrate various millet processing equipment/ products developed by ICAR-CIAE as well as the products developed and marketed by women farmers.

On 9 February, a farmers-stakeholders-Industry interface meeting was organized where leaders among the women farmers in FPO’s were invited to share their experiences with the participants.

A discussion on the use of women-friendly tools and funding opportunities for women farmers was held. Many women-led FPO’s, entrepreneurs, NGO’s working in the area of millets shared their experiences.

Around 350 people participated, including women farmers from Betul, Sheopur, Chhatarpur, Raisen, Sehore and Berasia districts; representatives from Women and Child Development Department, Govt of MP; MP State Rural Livelihood Mission; NGO’s  (Welt Hunger HiLife, MP Vigyan Sabha, Solidaridad, Sunrise Rural Development Society) and industries (Bio-Nutrients, Vasundhara Krishi Yantra, Dharti Agro, Shiv Agro Solutions, Raman Greens).

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal)