Workshop on PM-FME scheme for women SGHs conducted in Karnataka’s Mandya

A one-day technical workshop was conducted on Wednesday for members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in Mandya to highlight the benefits of the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprise (PM-FME) scheme.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mandya Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO K.R. Nandini, who underlined the importance of infusing value addition to agricultural products through which rural women can achieve economic progress.

The workshop was organised to mark International Rural Women’s Day in association with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation, and the district administration.

Ms. Nandni operated a machine to extract groundnut oil to mark the inauguration and spoke on the benefits of value addition to agricultural products instead of selling them directly in the market. Farm produce should undergo processing, packaging, and branding, she said, and pointed out that this leads to a rise in income of the farmers and the rural women.

The ZP CEO said that rural women were the backbone of agriculture and the farm sector but empowerment cannot come through physical labour alone and requires adaptation to new technologies.

She stated that agriculture can be turned into an enterprise that is profitable and suggested that in the future, government should procure value-added food products directly from women SHGs so as to stimulate demand for the products.

Ashok, Joint Director of Agriculture, Mandya, said that the district generated around ₹2,000 crore by way of turnover through agriculture, and added that this could increase to ₹6,000 crore in case there was value addition to the produce.

Roopashree, Deputy Director of Horticulture, spoke on apiary or beekeeping apart from the demand for other products for which the department would extend support. There were inputs on animal husbandry and fisheries, and officials spoke on various government schemes that support SHGs and farmers in this venture.