Women empowerment through value addition for nutritional and livelihood security

Every woman is an entrepreneur as she manages, organizes and assures responsibility. Women comprise about 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force globally. India is predominantly agricultural economy comprising 60–65 per cent of its population living in rural sector and earning livelihood through agriculture. The profits from agriculture have greatly diminished. Since we have achieved self-sufficiency in agricultural production now there is an urgent need to focus on value addition. A large number of nutritious products grouped under health beverages, infant foods and nutritious snacks from pulses, maize, soybean, fruits and vegetables can be prepared by rural women at home or as small scale cottage industry in villages. Rural women can engage themselves in specialty food making with locally available raw material. The simple machineries/equipments and vessels can be purchased by availing credit facility from the nationalized banks.