AP Women Entrepreneurs Biodegradable Innovations Shine at DRDA Workshop

By: WE staff | Saturday, 26 April 2025

• Ch. Jithendria, the owner of Akruthi Bio Green, manufactures biodegradable items as plastic substitutes
• She has educated numerous women to produce environmental-friendly products
• Jithendria invites more women to participate with her

During their appearance at a workshop conducted by District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) on Friday, women entrepreneurs from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana promoted a range of eco-friendly, biodegradable products, with them focusing on working towards sustainability and also working towards empowering women.

Ch. Jithendria from Akruthi Bio Green elaborated about her intention of reducing the use of plastic by producing biodegradable products. "I make biodegradable items and am trying not to use plastic," she explained. Jithendria has given training to numerous women to prepare plates, spoons, glasses, bags, decorative pieces, wallets, packing materials, and more, and keeps motivating women to join her in saving the environment and water resources.

Another business owner, Sree Sahasra Industries' D. Vijaya Durga, highlighted the ability to use paper pulp and sugarcane waste to produce environmentally friendly products. "You can produce jute bags, plates, drinking glasses for water, and so on," she explained.

The workshop had a variety of products produced from biodegradable materials, such as jute bags, wall curtains, pen stands, spoons, saucers, cups, etc. Millet food items were also a highlight, with Keerthana of 9 Nutz saying, "There is a huge demand for millet food items like sweets, snacks, chocolates, chikkies, flours, cookies, and chips. We make millet laddu, raagi laddu, and dry fruit chocolates."

District Collector G. Lakshmisha, who was joined by DRDA Project Director A.N.U. Nanchara Rao and Project Officer Venkata Narayana, toured the stalls, met the women entrepreneurs, and tasted the millet snacks. Appreciating their initiative, the Collector assured government assistance through training, credit, and market linkage. He also encouraged women's Self Help Groups (SHGs) to take up self-employment schemes. In NTR district alone, there are approximately 4.5 lakh SHG members with potential to drive sustainable ventures.