To enhance livelihoods through income generation by promoting self-employment opportunities for farmers and youth ICAR-NAARM organized 5 days Skill Development Training Programme on Value addition to Millets’ for Rural SC farmers sustainable Income under the SCSP, in collaboration with the KVK Virudhunagar from 04–08th August, 2025. The programme helped rural women and girls learn and improve their skills, thereby boosting their confidence and independence. A total of 40 Scheduled Caste farmers, farm women and youth from Virudhunagar District, TN participated in the training programme and benefitted. The Farmers and youths actively engaged in all sessions and were educated on various aspects of millet value addition, product preparation, and marketing.
Dr. M. Balakrishnan, Principal Scientist & Chairman SCSP ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, participated in the valedictory session as the Chief Guest, he highlighted the importance of millets and its usage. He stressed the importance of millet for enhancing nutritional security and its value addition. He encouraged the participants to be an entrepreneur by establishing small scale value added millets unit. Suggested to add millet recipes to their daily diet, which improve their health conditions. During the valedictory session, the Value addition to millet booklet was released by the chief guest.
Dr. Chelvi Ramesh, Professor & Head KVK, Virudhunagar explained about the various programmes undertaken by the KVK Virudhunagar for the development of Scheduled Castes farmers. He has explained the health benefits of millets and present market demand of the millet products. She emphasized on the necessity of the next generation of farmers to be sensitized and trained in processing, value addition and marketing.
In the valedictory session, trainees displayed their prepared products like Ragi biscuit, Drumstick leaves Cookies, Pearl Millet Cake, millet health mix and millet powder etc., and as a part of a programme Barnyard millet, seeds etc. were provided, and certificates were distributed to all participants to support the development of entrepreneur’s skill.
Earlier Dr. Nallakurumban, Associate Professor, KVK, Virudhunagar delivered the welcome address. The meeting ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Venudevan, SMS(SS&T), KVK, Virudhunagar. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Nallakurumban, Associate Professor, KVK, Virudhunagar, TN.
https://naarm.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/KVK-Virudhunagar-Millets-news-item-for-ICAR-Website.pdf
