Strengthening entrepreneurship capacity of women farmers of farmer organizations for seed and service provisions

Women Farmer Producer Company

ClimatePRO has a strong focus on nurturing entrepreneurship among women farmers. In Balangir and Ganjam, a multi-product, multi-service women Farmer Producer Company (FPC) is being incubated, with over 2000 members currently - replicating the successful model of Kalahandi Adarsh WFPC - with a primary emphasis on certified seed production, branding and marketing along with other agricultural allied services. IRRI is actively engaged in creating an environment that supports development of inclusive decentralised seed systems, fosters leadership, and encourages entrepreneurship among women. This involves developing crucial skills, enhancing access to knowledge, technologies, and services, and establishing vital institutional linkages for success.

The FPC would ensure doubling the income of women farmers by providing them the following key services

1. Input Services: Quality seed, manure and fertilizers, environment-friendly pesticides and bio-agents, young calves/ chicks/ kids, appropriate feed and fodder, livestock medicines and vaccinations
2. Procurement and Storage Services: Procurement of produce, transport to safe and hygienic storage spaces, some of which will help in obtaining warehouse receipt financing from banks
3. Value Addition Services: Provision for value addition units depending upon agricultural crop and agri-allied activities within the agro-processing park
4. Marketing services: Provision of reaching out to the consumer directly through retail shops or e-commerce portal to further increase returns for woman farmers and ensuring authentic products to the consumers
5. Data Analytics and Information Services: Provision of customized information on inputs and suitable practices for precision, environment-friendly, and climate resilient agriculture
6. Capacity Building Services: Training women farmers on a package of practices for various agriculture and agri-allied activities

Women Entrepreneurship Program (WEP)

The Women Entrepreneurship Program (WEP) in Balangir, Odisha, is a special initiative of ClimatePRO that aims to empower rural women from the Loisingha Farmer Producer Company (FPC). This program, also known as a Mini-MBA for rural women, provides a mix of techno-managerial skills and practical hands-on training to women entrepreneurs, assisting them in their leadership journey towards becoming successful business owners. This distinct learning experience is more than just acquiring knowledge – it's about boosting the confidence and capabilities of these rural women. The objective is to help these women entrepreneurs grow so that they can make positive changes in their communities.

Outcome

• Nearly 2000 women smallholder farmers collectivised into two women led farmer producer companies (W-FPC) with cumulative share capital of ~2.6M Indian Rupees
• more than 790 acres of land under seed multiplication programme on climate smart paddy varieties/climate resilient varieties (CRVs) like MTU-1153, MTU-1156, MTU 1010, MTU 1001, BB 11, Swarna Sub-1, MTU 1224, CR Dhan 312
• More than 15 M revenue from sales in financial year 2023-24 by women-led FPCs