In a bid to develop entrepreneurship among women in the State with the help of an agricultural think tank of the State, a group of women of Garu village of Kanke block of Ranchi district is moving towards becoming self-reliant through value addition and processing of agricultural crop products.
Agricultural Engineering Scientist of Birsa Agricultural University, Dr SK Pandey, says that the women of this village were associated with organic agriculture under the Amrit Krishi program. “Under the guidance of the BAU-BPD unit, women started cultivation of paddy and vegetable crops with cow dung and cow urine. Due to which the women of the village got great benefits. The urge to see, learn and do the latest agricultural technology increased among women,” he added.
A total of 25 women of the village were given practical training on post-harvest engineering and technology related topics in the Agricultural Engineering Department of BAU. After training, 12 of these women formed a women's group called Pragati Sakhi Mandal. 5 active women of this group showed great interest in cottage industry related to value addition and processing of agricultural crop products in the village.
In view of the interest of women, BAU under the technical guidance of ICAR – All India Coordinated Research Post Harvest Engineering and Technology Project established an agro-product processing center at Garu village. This center was jointly inaugurated in January 2019 by the then Director Research and National Project Coordinator of CIPHET and also released the processed and produced spice packets under Pragati Sakhi Mandal brand.
Under the leadership of Sabita Devi, 5 active women of Pragati Sakhi Mandal group are making pure and quality spice powder of turmeric, coriander, round pepper, red chili and cumin for three years. 100 grams of cumin at Rs 35, turmeric at Rs 25, coriander at Rs 20, round pepper at Rs 100 and red chilli at Rs 35 packets are prepared by them. These products are being sold by women in Kanke, CMPDI, Morabadi, Agriculture Colony and nearby villages. Some urban and rural customers who are fond of the quality of spices buy the products directly from the center itself.
Sabita Devi says that the women of the group, after their regular household and farming work, spend two hours every day preparing the spice products. “Two of these women sell the products in local markets or hatia. Due to this little hard work, the group is getting a net profit of Rs 15 to Rs 20 thousand per month. There is a demand for high priced branded spice products in the markets but the women of Pragati Sakhi Mandal are marching towards self-reliance with struggle based on the purity and quality of spices,” he added.
Pandey says that this successful women's group is the source of inspiration for other women's groups of the state. “The State has immense potential for food processing. Rural women can increase their income manifold sitting at home by joining pulse mill, oil mill, bakery unit, ketchup, saas, papad and potato chips etc. The demand for spice products of Pragati Sakhi Mandal is increasing continuously. The success of their self-reliance has started teaching rural youth and girls to live from a new perspective,” he added.
