In addition, the Anand Agriculture University (AAU) is also set to begin a training programme for women, soon. M J Solanki, the Associate Director, Extension, AAU, said, “AAU will soon begin a training centre exclusively for women at Devgadh Baria taluka in Dahod district.”
Solanki said the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and the Government of Gujarat have shown willingness to offer funds for the development of this tribal centre. The
centre is likely to take nearly one year before it starts functioning. “Last year, AAU Reproductive Biology unit in collaboration with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Market Federation (GCMMF) started a course for training women in cooperatives,” said Solanki.
He said, “AAU has also started some skill-based courses in the field of animal husbandry for women at Arnej in Ahmedabad and Devasad at Anand.”
Meanwhile, A J Kachia Patel, Joint Director, the state Animal Husbandry department, said, “Our survey has shown that in livestock, 80 per cent work is carried out by women. We are therefore designing several skill-based techniques in poultry farming and livestock and make women beneficiaries of our schemes.”
However, P N Roy Chaudhary, the Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Cooperation Department, said, “This pattern, while viable in Animal Husbandry sector, is not possible in agriculture. Generally, the agricultural land is in the name of men and hence technically they are the beneficiaries.”
Mangu Patel, the state Forest and Tribal Affairs Minister, said, “The state government has stressed on increasing women’s participation in tribal schemes as men, often, spend a large part of their income on addictions but women use it for the betterment their families.”
He said, “In fact, we are planning some skill-based programmes exclusively for women in a few selected villages.”