Key Highlights
- First
agro-processing centre in the region to be fully owned and operated by
women
- Set up with a
total project cost of ₹219.31 lakh and the expected annual turnover with
an approximately ₹4.72 crore
- Operated by Baddepalli
Women Farmers Producer Company Limited with 727 women farmer members
- Fifth FT-CFC
established under the Kalyana Karnataka agro-processing initiative
Yadgir: Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance &
Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, today inaugurated the Women-Led
Agro-Processing Centre and Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre
(FT-CFC) at Baddepalli in Yadgir district, Karnataka. The facility is the
fifth such centre established under a series of farmer-centric initiatives
aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains across the Kalyana Karnataka
region.
The centre has been established by NABARD
leveraging the Hon’ble Minister’s MPLADS funds, to promote value
addition, reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access, and create
sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers.
A distinctive feature of the project is that
it is being managed by Baddepalli Women Farmers Producer Company Limited,
an FPO comprising 727 women members, making it the first women-led
agro-processing facility in the region. The centre is expected to serve as a
model for women-led rural enterprises by enabling women farmers to participate
across the agricultural value chain - from production and processing to
branding and marketing.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Nirmala
Sitharaman said:
“I am delighted to inaugurate this agro-processing
centre, which is entirely operated by women. Yadgir, one of Karnataka’s
youngest districts, continues to face developmental challenges, including low
female literacy and multidimensional poverty. Initiatives such as this will
help improve incomes, generate employment opportunities, and enhance the
overall quality of life in the district.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Yadgir’s
economy, with nearly 75 per cent of the district’s land under cultivation. The
district produces around 22,500 metric tonnes of groundnuts annually. This
facility will enable farmers to convert raw produce into value-added products
such as roasted and salted peanuts, peanut butter, groundnut oil and de-oiled
cake, thereby improving returns to producers.
I urge NABARD to facilitate wider market
access for these products through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. I
also request the district administration to extend all necessary support to
ensure that the unit achieves its full potential. I look forward to seeing
‘Yadgir Groundnut’ emerge as a recognised brand, much like other successful
agricultural products from across the country.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shaji K.V.,
Chairman, NABARD, said:
“The Yadgir Training-cum-Processing Centre
represents a scalable model for farmer-led value addition and women’s
entrepreneurship. It is aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Finance Minister
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to strengthen women’s participation in economic
activities and create sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
NABARD has been entrusted with facilitating a
sustainable training and processing ecosystem across the Kalyana Karnataka
region through the effective utilisation of MPLADS support. We are grateful to
the Government of Karnataka and the district administration for their
partnership in making this initiative a reality.”
The centre is equipped to process 480 metric
tonnes of groundnuts annually and manufacture a range of value-added products
including peanut butter, groundnut oil, roasted and salted peanuts, and
de-oiled cake. Product quality and food safety standards will be supported
through testing at the NABL-accredited laboratory of the University of
Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur.
In addition to processing activities, the
facility will function as a training and capacity-building hub for Farmer
Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and rural youth. A
multi-channel marketing strategy has been developed, combining traditional
retail networks and trader partnerships with digital platforms such as ONDC,
while exploring onboarding opportunities with leading e-commerce and
quick-commerce platforms.
The Yadgir centre builds upon the success of
four similar facilities established earlier in Koppal, Raichur, Ballari and
Vijayanagara, further strengthening the region’s agricultural processing
infrastructure and farmer-owned enterprises.
The event was attended by Shri Sanjay Lohiya,
Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Government of India; Captain Dr.
K. Rajendra, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka;
Shri B.G. Patil, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council; Shri Sharana
Gouda Kandakur, MLA, Gurumathakal Constituency; Dr. A.K. Sood, Deputy Managing
Director, NABARD; Shri Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director, ITC
Limited; along with senior officials from the State Government, NABARD, banks,
FPOs and the farming community.