The Andhra Pradesh government today inked a pact with 16 companies, including Mahindra & Mahindra and ITC, to market products under the DWCRA scheme in the international market.
Launched in 1982, Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) is a central government sponsored programme which aims at improving the socio-economic status of poor women in rural areas.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the 'Andhra Pradesh Rural Inclusive Growth' conference today.
The companies include Walmart, Mahindra and Mahindra, ITC, and Olam Agro, among others.
Walmart would procure rice and chilies from farmers in Anantapur and East Godavari districts. It will also provide training in food products processing to women.
Women's self-help groups will supply power generated from renewable sources to Walmart stores in Guntur, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada.
As per the MoU, Walmart has to set up a dedicated unit to train women entrepreneurs.
ITC, from its Guntur center, will encourage the cultivation of tobacco and chillies.
Olam Agro will take up the processing of coffee, cashew, chillies, rice and other products. It would also train women in the processing of food products.
Mahindra and Mahindra would provide training to farmers in agricultural mechanisation and also provide agri-business solutions to them.
The National Dairy Development Board will train farmers on dairy activities.
Star Agriwarehousing and Collateral Management Limited will provide financial assistance to farmers for the construction of small godowns.
RMAL Information Private Limited will develop mobile applications to provide information on the trends in Agri- markets.
Shresta Natural Bio-Products Limited will take up the marketing of various food products under '24 Mantra' organic food brand.
Airtel will train women in rural areas in digital literacy with the support of local technical institutions.
Future Group will procure agri-products and also help in transforming the existing public distribution shops into retail outlets.
Naidu said his vision is to eradicate rural poverty by promoting the various products produced under the DWCRA initiative in international markets.
He said that rural women will become digital literates through training given by these business houses.
The Chief Minister said that about 90 lakh women self-help group members will benefit from the MoUs.
