Yadgir: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on June 4 inaugurated a NABARD-supported groundnut processing unit in Yadgir district, describing it as a landmark initiative in women-led rural entrepreneurship and value addition. The facility is unique as it is the only processing unit among several such projects in the Kalyana Karnataka region that is being managed entirely by women.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Sitharaman said Yadgir produces nearly 22,500 metric tonnes of groundnuts annually and possesses immense potential for agro-based industrial development. She noted that the newly established unit would help farmers secure better returns while creating employment opportunities for local women.
“We have now established a facility that can extract oil from groundnuts and manufacture a variety of value-added products. This is an important step towards ensuring that farmers receive greater benefits from their produce instead of merely selling raw agricultural commodities,” the Union Minister said.
Praising the efforts of Peddapalli Women Farmers Producer Company Limited, which is operating the unit, Sitharaman said the initiative demonstrated how women could successfully lead economic transformation at the grassroots level.
“The Yadgir unit is the only one among the seven value-addition units established across Kalyana Karnataka that is being run entirely by women. This is a matter of pride not only for the district but for the entire state,” she remarked.
During her interaction with women entrepreneurs, Sitharaman was informed about difficulties in procuring raw groundnuts directly from farmers. She said the issue required immediate attention from local authorities and stakeholders.
“The women managing this unit have brought to my notice the challenges they face in purchasing groundnuts directly from farmers. They are currently sourcing the produce through local markets and mandis. NABARD has even appointed an officer to facilitate the process. Why should there be hurdles in procuring raw materials for such a promising initiative?” she asked.
The finance minister emphasised that a single processing unit would not be sufficient to fully utilize Yadgir’s groundnut production potential and called for the establishment of more such facilities in the district.
“One unit alone cannot absorb the entire groundnut output of Yadgir. We need many more such value-addition centres. Local representatives, district officials and agricultural authorities must pay special attention to this initiative and support its expansion,” she said.
Sitharaman stressed that development cannot be achieved by governments alone and called for greater participation from citizens, local institutions and community organizations.
“If Yadgir has to move forward, it is not enough for the Central and State governments alone to work. People, local administration and community leaders must contribute actively to the district’s development,” she said.
The Minister also urged NABARD to help the producer company expand its market reach through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, enabling its products to access consumers across the country.
Drawing a comparison with Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district, renowned for mango production, Sitharaman expressed confidence that Yadgir could build a similar identity around groundnuts.
“Chittoor is known across the country for its mangoes. In the same way, I hope Yadgir will become famous for its groundnuts and groundnut-based products in the years ahead,” she said.
She further expressed hope that the successful operation of the NABARD-supported facility would attract private investment into the district’s agro-processing sector and create a larger ecosystem for rural industries.
While appreciating the progress being made, Sitharaman acknowledged that Yadgir continues to face significant developmental challenges.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in sectors such as education and healthcare. Low female literacy, poor per-capita income levels, high multidimensional poverty and the district’s position at the lower end of Karnataka’s Human Development Index remain serious concerns,” she observed.
The Union Minister reiterated her commitment to supporting the district and called for coordinated efforts by the Centre, the State government and local administration. She noted that Yadgir, along with neighbouring Raichur, has been identified as an aspirational district because development benefits have not reached the region at the same pace as other parts of the state.
“Yadgir requires urgent and focused intervention from all levels of government. We must work together to bridge the development gap and ensure that people here receive the same opportunities available elsewhere,” she said.
Later, Sitharaman also inaugurated a Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre at Badepalli, aimed at enhancing agricultural knowledge, skills and value-added production capabilities among local farmers.
