Tata Chemicals celebrates Kasturi initiative, awards exceptional women farmer leaders

Tata Chemicals today celebrated Kasturi journey, an initiative of Tata Chemical Society for Rural Development’s (TCSRD) at a special event, where 14 exceptional women farmer leaders were awarded for their efforts in developing a national network of women ‘agripreneurs’.

TCSRD event saw participation from18 institutions working for women farmers in different states as farmers, trainers, channel partners and consumer movement professionals. Also present on the occasion were representatives from the Tata Group, WTC and other reputed organisations working for development of women farmers across states

Commenting on the Kasturi Journey, Alka Talwar, CSR & Sustainability Chief, Tata Chemicals Ltd. said, “Livelihood enhancement projects that lift employment skills and empower women is an important part of our social and community development initiatives.”

“TCSRD’s Kasturi initiative enables women farmers to realize their unique strengths and a platform where they can multiply that strength by coming together in a national network. We have come a long way since the launch of this unique initiative in 2017 and I congratulate our partners and all the women leaders for inspiring communities with their vision and leadership qualities,” she added.

Kasturi is an initiative undertaken to groom woman farmers as Agripreneurs trained in Customer Relationship Management and work towards enhancing farmers’ income. Kasturi aims to bridge the gap between women farmers and consumers, with consumers making direct payment to women farmers towards a common mission of ‘Healthy Food for All’.

This is a unique initiative from TCSRD with ‘Fork to Farm’ approach with farmers learning from the consumers. Urban consumers including corporate parks, housing colonies, urban women associations give detailed feedback that helps women farmers in planning and converting crops into ready to cook or ready to eat products at the farm level.

Through customized workshops, consumer interaction events and business coaching, Kasturi helps women farmers to realize their leadership potential by developing peer level relationship with others across the value chain of food businesses.”

The 14 exceptional women farmer leaders and ‘agripreneurs’ had crisscrossed the Indian subcontinent by train, breaking glass ceilings as they demonstrated physical, social and entrepreneurial capabilities while developing and leading a national entrepreneurship network with Indian youth, men and women.