Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Maruthesha AM, Jyothi Rathod and Gangappagouda Biradar

Abstract:
The value addition to agricultural commodities can be a better entrepreneurial opportunity for the rural women to support their livelihood and enhance their economic capabilities. The step towards economic development through setting up rural agro-based and non-agro based processing small scale entrepreneurial activities. In this way, the present research study trying to focus in identifying opportunities in the field of entrepreneurship to the rural women in the Davanagere district. And introducing those technical entrepreneurial aspects through interventions of extension outreach activities i.e awareness-cum-training programmes. Therefore the main objective of the study was to intervene and assess the Entrepreneurial Development Initiatives (EDIs) by rural women in the selected villages in the Davanagere district of Karnataka state. The villages were selected for the study area viz., Nittur of Harihar taluk and Kulambi of Honnali taluk during the year 2020-21. The data was collected from 120 rural women using a semi-structured interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. The results of the study revealed that, the total production of finger millet (Ragi) malt for two years was 11,145 kg, followed by hurihittu 2,895 kg and malt chocolate 136 kg. A net profit of Rs. 8871.4 from the three products. The majority of the SHG members marketed the value-added products through retail shops, medical shops, Krishimela, field days, exhibitions, and by direct sales. Before the intervention, the majority of the rural SHG women were in the medium-income group (60.00%) followed by 32.00 percent in the low-income group and only 08.00 percent were in the high income group. Noticeable improvements was observed after the intervention program i.e., 70.00 percent of them were in medium income group, 20.00 percent in high-income group and only 10 percent were in the low income group (Rs. <2,500). Transfer of these technologies through training programme play an important role in rural areas to help women develop socially, economically and could serve as a tool to bring the rural women to the main stream through timely guidance, updated information and supervision.