ITC Limited — Agri Business Division works predominantly to promote the cultivation of tobacco in the Mysore and Hassan districts of Karnataka, and takes measures to build the capacity of farmers involved in tobacco cultivation for human and environmental wellbeing.
As part of this capacity building, an exclusive training programme was organised for women in the NAP villages. Forty villages were covered across the two districts, and 1,334 women attended the programme.
Topics covered
- Sustainable agriculture practices in tobacco cultivation.
- Opportunities for subsidiary income-generation activities for women.
- Awareness of child rights, labour rights and human rights.
- Awareness of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
- Welfare initiatives from ITC, government and non-government institutions.
Participant feedback
- Training methodology, topics covered and presentations were rated good.
- Sessions are best scheduled after tobacco curing is complete, as the peak season makes long sittings difficult.
- Detailed follow-up training is sought for selected income-generation activities.
- Guidance is required on marketing and on accessing facilities from different sources.
- Energisers and worked examples between sessions helped participants stay focused and active.