Empowering Women Through Natural Product Entrepreneurship: Insights from Thanjavur Training Program

A two-day training course on value addition to natural products and empowering women entrepreneurs was held in Thanjavur on the 25th and 26th, organized by the National Institute of Food Technology Development and Management.

During the training, Mr. Duraisingam, Dr. Loganathan, Mr. Nel Jayaraman, Dr. Anand, Mrs. Mil Madhi, and Mrs. Mahapunas participated as resource persons.

Additionally, 45 women from 25 districts attended and shared their experiences on entrepreneurship. They explained various methods for fruit juice production, making powder from drumstick seeds, and creating herbal powders to sell in surrounding villages.

Discussions emphasized the importance of food security, soil fertility, and maintaining a disease-free life. Participants from Tiruvannamalai district highlighted their honey farming efforts on two acres of land, where they produce five liters of honey per month, selling it at ₹1200 per liter. They mentioned how they benefit from profitable practices like chariot farming.

There was also talk about cultivating 32 types of rice naturally on two acres of land. These varieties are sold at prices ranging from ₹60 to ₹110 per kilogram. Since the rice is grown without pesticides, it has attracted significant interest from buyers as a natural product.

Furthermore, entrepreneurial ideas were shared, such as fish farming, poultry meat production, white pork, mango juice, tomato juice, basil, mint, spices, fruit salad, tiger powder paste, semolina powder, rice porridge, and water sales.

Participants discussed producing powders like avarambu powder, hibiscus powder, duthuwala mint powder, maize flour, noodles, beetroot pasta, and carrot pasta. They also mentioned extracting moringa leaf products, selling them for ₹3000 per kilogram. Training was provided on making products like onion shampoo, onion herbal powder, sugar syrup, soy milk, and ragi biscuits.

On behalf of SRED (Society for Rural Entrepreneurship Development), Chandramma and Umavathy attended the training program, contributing valuable insights into women's entrepreneurship and innovation.