TAWANG, Jul 4: A 15-day micro enterprise development programme (MEDP) on value addition of finger millet for women self-help groups (SHGs) successfully concluded in Tawang on Saturday, providing participants with skills to develop marketable millet-based products and promote sustainable rural livelihoods.
The programme was organised by the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Tawang under the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) in collaboration with NABARD, which funded the initiative.
Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo attended the valedictory function as the chief guest and distributed certificates to the trainees. She appreciated the range of millet-based food products prepared during the training and encouraged the SHG members to transform their newly acquired skills into viable enterprises by maintaining quality standards, adopting attractive packaging, and exploring wider markets.
She said value addition to locally available resources such as finger millet can enhance household incomes while preserving traditional food practices and promoting nutrition.
Earlier, Drema Lhamu, BCLH-NF, BMMU Tawang, presented an overview of the programme, highlighting its objectives and the enthusiastic participation of women from various SHGs across the district.
Resource person Dr Divya Pathak, Subject Matter Specialist at KVK Tawang, said the participants underwent extensive practical sessions on preparing a variety of value-added finger millet products. The training focused on processing techniques, product quality, hygiene, and commercial viability.
Keertika Kashyap, DDC, NABARD, informed that the programme was fully funded by NABARD and implemented by BMMU Tawang. Besides product preparation, participants also received training in packaging, branding, marketing strategies, financial literacy, and enterprise management to help them establish sustainable micro-enterprises.
District Horticulture Officer Koncho Gyatso highlighted Govt initiatives, including the Catch Them Young programme and the Arunachal Mushroom Mission, and said trained SHGs would receive preference under the Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana and other schemes.
Deputy Director of Industries Tsering Drema briefed the participants on the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme and encouraged them to utilise the scheme to establish and expand food processing ventures.
The programme concluded with a renewed commitment from ArSRLM, NABARD, and district stakeholders to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship through skill development, value addition, and enterprise creation, enabling rural women to convert locally grown finger millet into high-value products and sustainable sources of income.