AM/NS India Empowers Women Farmers With Agri Machinery

• ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, through its SAFAL CSR programme, has installed agri value-addition machinery for women Producer Groups. 
• The oil extraction and rice milling units bring in local processing, lower wastage, and increased earnings for the women-led groups. 
• The training assistance begets the skills needed for the continuation of a business, and thereby, the growth of livelihood. 

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), via its principal CSR activity, ‘Sustainable Agriculture for Alternative Livelihood’ (SAFAL) has reaffirmed its pledge towards sustainable rural livelihoods by handing over two agri value-addition machineries to the women Producer Groups of Barei and Chakradharpur villages in Kujang Block. Through localised processing, increased income avenues and lower post-harvest losses, the project aims to empower women-led agri-enterprises. 

A mini oil extraction machine was given to a group of Sridhya Mahabeer Producer Group of Chakradharpur, 21 women members in total. The group facilitated by the machine can now process the oilseeds grown in their area, which in turn, will bring them more money, enable them to better control the quality of the product, and lower the level of their dependence on external mills.

In the same way, a mini rice mill was provided to Maa Mangala Variety Producer Group of Barei that had 30 women members. It is now possible for the group to do grading, milling, and packaging by having access to localised paddy processing, which will also allow them to generate additional revenue while selling locally branded products. 

Besides providing machinery, the initiative also has capacity-building programmes that cover operations, maintenance, financial literacy, market linkage facilitation, and business management. These activities are intended to help the enterprises continue to be sustainable over time, increase the incomes of the households, create local jobs, and promote collective entrepreneurship among women in the village. 

The event was attended by Shri Rohit Jena, Sarpanch, Bhutamundai, Shri Sanjaya Behera, Representative of Paradeepgarh, sarpanch and senior advocate, Shri Trailokya Malla, Block Programme Coordinator, Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM), Shri Tulsi Mahanna, Block Technology Manager, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Kujang, and members from various women SHG groups. The officials termed the project as a big move towards self-sufficiency and economic empowerment.