Engendering finger millet-based value chains for livelihood and nutritional security of women in agriculture

Abstract

Gender analysis along the agricultural value chain enhances our understanding about the roles per-formed by men and women in the value chain and in forward and backward linkages, their access to pro-ductive resources, opportunities available for value-addition and benefit sharing, both as individuals and group enterprises. The gender roles in finger millet-based value chains and the constraints faced by women in existing finger millet value chains in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha have been documented in this study. Along the value chains, women were found only as farmers, petty traders or labourers in processing units. However, the entry points for women in finger millet value chain have been identified. The role of women in the value chain could be strengthened by mobilizing them into clusters, establishing millet-processing units, and forming forward and backward linkages.