Interaction with Om Shanti women Self-Help-Group at Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

    A field visit and interaction was organized with the head and members of the Om Shanti women Self-Help Group in Jakimirya village, Ratnagiri coastal district of Maharashtra on 2 March 2025. Smt. Priya Jadhav, head of the self-help-group provided a brief introduction of the current activities of group containing 20 farm women under SC category. They are currently involved in mango and cashew farming and preparation of products such as chilly and turmeric powder, curry masala and papad. Dr Sreekanth GB, Senior Scientist (FRM), ICAR-CCARI provided an overview of the technologies developed by the institute related to agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Dr Santosh Metar, Assoc. Professor, College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri briefed about the different livelihood activities of the village covering agriculture, dairy, poultry and fishing. The group expressed their interest in taking up the novel technologies on value addition developed by ICAR-CCARI such as cashew apple crunch, nutmeg pericarp taffy, squash and vine preparations from selected fruits after acquiring hands-on experience from the institute. They also requested to provide the quality planting materials of cashew and mango developed by the institute to improve the productivity and farm income. The SHG has also sought the institute’s support in developing market linkages for their produce. Dr Sreekanth assured all the technical and scientific support to the SHG from the institute. The SHG also assured their whole-hearted support for the research and development activities of ICAR-CCARI in the coastal region. The programme was coordinated by Dr Sreekanth GB, Dr Santosh Metar and Shri Trivesh Mayekar, Scientist (FGB), ICAR-CCARI.