A Grassroots Revolution by Scheduled Caste Women in Uttar Pradesh Earns Global Recognition from UN-FAO

17 October 2025, Lucknow & Rome

In a landmark achievement for grassroots innovation, Mission Navshakti, an initiative of the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, has received Global Technical Recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The recognition was conferred during the World Food Forum 2025, held from October 10–17 at FAO Headquarters in Rome and online, as part of FAO’s 80th anniversary celebration themed “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.”

Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR, congratulated the Mission Navshakti team, calling it a "spark of change in the lives of Scheduled Caste rural women." FAO’s recognition serves as a global validation of the initiative’s potential to create scalable, inclusive, and sustainable models for aquatic livelihoods.

Mission Navshakti, implemented under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) of ICAR, empowers Scheduled Caste (SC) women by promoting micro-entrepreneurship in ornamental fish farming and aquarium fabrication. The initiative has transformed the lives of over 425 women from rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh through skill development, income generation, and community-based enterprise creation.

FAO honored ICAR-NBFGR's work for its technical leadership, collaborative approach, and impact on marginalized communities, aligning with the UN’s Four Betters: better production, nutrition, environment, and life. The recognition was presented by FAO Director-General Dr. QU Dongyu during the prestigious GO08 Global Technical Recognition Ceremony.

Mission Navshakti’s impact is rooted in its hub-and-spoke model, with a central Navshakti Aquagiri Business Incubation Centre (NABiC) established at ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow. NABiC acts as a marketplace and training center for ornamental fish, aquaria, and handcrafted accessories, directly connecting women entrepreneurs with urban markets.

The initiative began with 50 women in Dhankutti village, Barabanki, and has now expanded to Sitapur, Unnao, Kanpur Dehat, Lucknow, and even Udaipur (Rajasthan).
Women trained under Mission Navshakti have built cement backyard ponds, converted household troughs into fish tanks, and fabricated mini aquaria using complete starter kits that include filters, LED lights, feed, ornamental fish, and decoration materials. Notably, buy-back arrangements from partner organizations have ensured market linkages and income stability.

The project has helped women transition from household roles to active entrepreneurs, offering not just financial independence but also social and psychological empowerment. Technology played a vital role in sustaining this movement, with WhatsApp groups enabling real-time support, knowledge exchange, and peer learning.

To further bolster rural entrepreneurship, Collection & Point of Sale (C&PoS) hubs have been set up at HiTech Fisheries, Barabanki, and NABiC, providing sustainable supply chains and local marketing opportunities.

(Source: ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow)