Agri-Entrepreneurship Training for Women and Youth- Small Scale Food Processing Enterprises

Location : ICRISAT

Date : 2026-01-19 11:04:00

About the course

Small-scale food processing enterprises play a vital role in strengthening rural economies, reducing post-harvest losses, and generating local employment opportunities. With increasing consumer demand for safe, nutritious, and value-added food products, there is immense potential for women and youth to become successful agri-entrepreneurs in the food processing sector. 

This course is designed to equip participants with the practical knowledge, technical skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to establish and manage small-scale food processing enterprises. It emphasizes value addition to locally available crops, fruits, and vegetables, along with training in modern processing methods, packaging, quality control, branding, and marketing.

By building the capacity of women and youth, the course aims to promote inclusive growth, enhance income opportunities, and strengthen rural food systems. It also encourages the formation of micro-enterprises and cooperatives, helping participants to move from primary production to profitable value addition and market linkages.

The training will further develop financial literacy, business planning, and enterprise management capabilities—essential components for transforming ideas into sustainable enterprises. Community-based organizations and young innovators will be encouraged to take leadership roles in local food enterprises, fostering entrepreneurship-led rural development.

Course Topics

  • Food processing industry: A snapshot of global scenario
  • Managing Small Scale Food Processing enterprises
  • Rural entrepreneurship & business opportunities for Women & youth
  • Food processing technologies & entrepreneurship development
  • New Product Development
  • Trends in Food Products Packaging
  • Business Communication & Digital Technologies for SMEs
  • Rural Entrepreneurship and Food Processing
  • Technology based Entrepreneurship Development and Business Plan Preparation
  • Business Plan Preparation
  • Intellectual property Rights, Technology Transfer & Compliance
  • Communication skills for better client engagement
  • Networking and mentoring for effective client servicing
  • Entrepreneurial Journey (interaction with entrepreneurs)
  • Visits to processing facilities and Technology Business Incubators in Hyderabad.

Course Impact

  • Participants, including women entrepreneurs, and youth, gain a clear understanding of opportunities in the food processing sector.
  • Women and youth learn the essential steps of establishing and managing small-scale food enterprises, from idea to market.
  • Improved knowledge in food processing, packaging, marketing, and quality standards to ensure competitiveness and profitability.
  • Strengthened linkages with key departments, technical experts, and financial institutions to facilitate enterprise growth.
  • Improved livelihoods, enhanced household incomes, and empowered women and youth as change agents for sustainable rural development.

Register here: ITEC: Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation

Application: The fully sponsored program is exclusive to non-Indian international participants only.