Bhubaneswar, Sept 17 [UDN}:A meeting was held with a delegation from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to discuss measures for strengthening Self-Help Groups (SHGs), promoting food processing and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship and livelihoods.
The discussions focused particularly on developing nutritious food products based on rice and millets. Emphasis was placed on supporting women associated with SHGs to take up food processing and value-addition activities, enabling them to generate sustainable livelihoods and increase their household incomes.
The meeting also explored opportunities for creating stronger market linkages for rice- and millet-based products. By connecting women-led enterprises with wider markets, the initiative aims to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level while ensuring that locally produced agricultural commodities receive greater value.
Another key area of discussion was strengthening the “farm-to-fork” system, with greater integration between farmers, food processors, women’s groups, entrepreneurs and consumers. Such an approach can help reduce post-harvest losses, promote value addition and ensure that nutritious agricultural products reach consumers through efficient supply chains.
The collaboration with IRRI is expected to contribute to the development of innovative rice- and millet-based food products while creating new avenues for women’s economic empowerment, rural enterprise development and sustainable income generation.
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