New Delhi, 04 June (H.S.):

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated a women-led groundnut processing unit supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development in Karnataka’s Yadgir District. The facility is capable of roasting groundnuts, extracting oil, and producing value-added products such as peanut butter.

Sitharaman also inaugurated a Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre in Badepalli. Addressing the gathering during the inauguration ceremony, she praised Peddapalli Women Farmer Producer Company Limited, which operates the processing unit.

She noted that among the seven value-addition units established in the Kalyana Karnataka region, the Yadgir facility is the only one managed entirely by women. The Finance Minister said she had been informed that the women operating the unit were facing difficulties in procuring groundnuts directly from farmers.

According to Sitharaman, the women have been attempting to purchase produce through agricultural markets and mandis, and NABARD has even appointed a dedicated officer to assist them in the process. However, she observed that intermediaries appear to be obstructing direct procurement from farmers.

Seeking accountability from the local administration, she questioned why the women-led enterprise should face obstacles in sourcing raw materials. She also emphasized that a single processing unit would not be sufficient to fully utilize Yadgir’s groundnut production and stressed the need for establishing several more such centres in the region.

The Finance Minister underscored the importance of strengthening women-led agricultural enterprises and expanding value-addition infrastructure to enhance farmers’ incomes and create sustainable rural livelihoods.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar