Enhancing Entrepreneurship Opportunities through Millet Based Value Added Products to Farm Women of Nagarkurnool District

Abstract

Millets are known as one of the most important cereal grains as it is good source of phytochemicals and micronutrients. Millets are consumed by more than 1/3rd of the world’s population. It is the 6th cereal crop in terms of world’s agricultural production. Present study was carried out in Nagarkurnool district of southern Telangana zone and sample size is n=30 farm women from economically low background cultivating millets were selected purposively. Nutritional education, skill development programs and awareness camps were organized to encourage for starting value added millet based enterprise for livelihood instead of selling raw produce which fetch low profits. The result of present study has shown that Millet value based products has enhanced the enterprise opportunities as the increase in health consciousness of the people. In the present study the cost benefit ratio has increase gradually with the each year 1:1.46 in the year 2018, 1:1.92 in the year 2019 and 1:2.5 in the year 2020. The consumption frequency of millet based value added products has also increased from 66% of sample daily consumption to 92% of daily consumption. As traditional roties (Indian flat bread) were not accepted by young age and unable to chew and swallow by old age. Millet based value added products were highly accepted, increased the consumption frequency and increased the income of farm women.

Unlocking the Potential: A review of Millet marketing through farmer producer organizations (FPOs) for sustainable agricultural development

“… The benefits of consuming millets have been proven to be significant nutritionally (Padulosi et al, 2015) [18] , with an abundance of phytochemicals, vitamins, and fiber.  Adding value to millet products increases income opportunities and livelihood options for communities while improving their health and nutrition (Jahan et al, 2020) [9] .  In regions like Gammawa, Nigeria, millets are an economically viable crop option for small and marginal farmers (Adebayo et al, 2008) [1] .…”