ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad Organises Training Programme for SC Farmers on Balanced Fertilizer Use and Millet Value Addition under GCoE–SCSP

20-21 April 2026, Hyderabad

With the objective of promoting scientific nutrient management and enhancing income opportunities through millet value addition, the ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad organized a two-day training programme for SC farmers under the GCoE–SCSP component on awareness of balanced use of fertilizers and millet value addition for members of Tekmal Farmers Producer Cooperative Society, Promoted by ICAR–IIMR, from 20 - 21 April 2026 at ICAR-IIMR, Hyderabad.

The programme was designed to strengthen farmers’ knowledge on scientific nutrient management and to enhance their skills in millet processing and value addition, thereby improving farm productivity as well as income opportunities. Farmers were sensitized on the importance of balanced fertilizer application based on crop requirements and soil health, which plays a crucial role in improving yield, maintaining soil fertility, and reducing unnecessary input costs.

During the technical sessions, an expert lecture on ‘Advancing Paddy Productivity through Improved Crop Production Technologies and Balanced Fertilizer Management’ was delivered. The importance of adopting scientific agronomic practices, proper nutrient scheduling, and efficient fertilizer use to enhance productivity while minimizing input costs and environmental impact.

As part of the training, participants were also exposed to practical aspects of millet value addition. The farmers visited the bakery unit at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University where they learned about the preparation of millet-based bakery products. They were further trained at the Shree Anna Processing Unit on the preparation of jowar roti using a roti-making machine, demonstrating modern, efficient, and scalable methods of millet processing. In a significant step towards promoting entrepreneurship, a roti-making machine was also provided free of cost to the FPO members by ICAR–IIMR to support their value addition activities at the community level. These hands-on training sessions are expected to particularly benefit women members of the FPO by equipping them with skills for small-scale enterprises and income generation. The adoption of millet-based value addition activities can create local employment opportunities, reduce drudgery through mechanization, and enable women to actively participate in value chains, thereby enhancing their economic empowerment.

The programme also highlighted the importance of integrating millet cultivation with value addition to improve profitability. By combining scientific farming practices with processing and marketing opportunities, farmers can diversify income sources and strengthen the sustainability of their livelihoods.

During the valedictory session, Dr Shyam Prasad, Director (In-Charge), ICAR–IIMR, appreciated the active participation of farmers and emphasized the need for adopting both balanced nutrient management and value addition practices. He stated that such capacity-building programmes play a vital role in bridging the gap between research and field application, enabling farmers to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and increase their income through diversified activities.

(Source: ICAR–Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad)