NITI Aayog member bats for better access for rural women to markets

Member of NITI Aayog Ramesh Chand has underscored the need for better access to markets to rural women so that they could sell their agricultural produce at a competitive price to ensure their economic empowerment.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day 33rd Annual Conference of Agricultural Economics Research Association (AERA) being held at ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICAR-NARM) here on Monday, he said women contribute over 34% of the total workforce and their participation in the agri-related activities had increased to 12% in the recent years.

Stating that their contribution and productivity were higher when compared to their counterparts (men) in farm-related activities, he said their economic empowerment would go a long way in the overall economic growth of the country. He suggested gradual reduction in agricultural emissions to mitigate the climate changes to some extent.

Elaborating on the large scope for innovations in the agriculture and food systems and innovations in agribusiness, Director General of ICRISAT Himanshu Pathak said there were many challenges in improving the role of women in agriculture as well as tackling the varieties of climate change. Innovations in agriculture could be fostered through enabling environment, collaborations and partnerships alongside increase in investments.

He asked tagriculture scientists to release climate resilient varieties of different crops to reduce impact on the productivity and production to meet the growing demand for food crops.

President of AERA P.K. Joshi, secretary Anjani Kumar, Deputy Managing Director of NABARD A.K. Sood, former Asia Regional Director of International Potato Center (CIP) Samarendu Mohanty and acting Director of NAARM Gopal Lal and others spoke at the international session of the conference being held with the theme of ‘Innovations in Agribusiness, Empowering Women and Climate-Resilient Agriculture’.

Later, during the technical sessions, focus was on Innovations in Agribusiness: Empowering Start-ups and Promoting Agricultural Exports; Empowering Women in Agriculture: Bridging Gender Gaps and Advancing Gender Equity; Climate Resilient Agriculture: Strategies for Adapting to Changing Climate and Ensuring Food Security. Agricultural economists, industry personnel, scientists, young scholars and students from across the country participated.