YADGIR, Karnataka June 4: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated a groundnut-processing facility in Yadgir district, Karnataka, which is entirely operated by women and supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the district, which annually produces approximately 22,500 metric tonnes of groundnuts, possesses significant potential for value addition. The newly established unit is equipped to roast groundnuts, extract oil, and manufacture products such as peanut butter.
The Finance Minister lauded the Peddapalli Women Farmers Producer Company Limited for managing the facility. She noted that among seven similar value-addition units established across the Kalyana Karnataka region, the Yadgir unit stands out as the sole facility operated entirely by women.
Sitharaman was informed that the women operating the facility were encountering difficulties in directly procuring groundnuts from farmers. Although efforts were being made to purchase from markets and mandis, and NABARD had appointed a dedicated officer, an intermediary was reportedly obstructing direct purchases. The Union Minister sought accountability from the local administration regarding these procurement challenges.
She emphasised that a single unit would be insufficient to process Yadgir’s entire groundnut production and that numerous additional facilities would be necessary. Sitharaman urged local representatives, district officials, and the Agriculture Secretary to provide special attention to this initiative, stressing that development requires concerted efforts beyond government action alone. For Yadgir to progress, the active involvement of its people and local administration is as crucial as the contributions of Central and state governments.
The Finance Minister also requested enhanced market access for the products manufactured at the facility and urged NABARD to assist the producer company in expanding its reach through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. Drawing a parallel with Andhra Pradesh’s renowned mango-producing district of Chittoor, Sitharaman expressed hope that Yadgir would achieve similar fame for its groundnuts.
She further suggested that the successful operation of the NABARD-supported unit could stimulate private investment in the district. Assuring continued support, Sitharaman acknowledged that substantial work remained to be done in areas such as education and healthcare within Yadgir. She highlighted the district’s low female literacy rate, its last-place ranking in the state’s Human Development Index, high levels of multidimensional poverty, and among the lowest per-capita incomes as pressing concerns.
Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, stated that Yadgir, along with neighbouring Raichur, was designated an ‘aspirational district’ due to development benefits not reaching these regions at the same pace as others. She reiterated that all levels of government must collaborate to bridge this gap.
Expressing deep sadness, the Finance Minister noted Yadgir’s position at the very bottom of Karnataka’s Human Development Index rankings. She attributed the district’s current condition not to the fault of its people but to the inadequate spread of development over the years.
Sitharaman pointed out a significant disparity compared to national trends, where girls across India are increasingly pursuing careers in engineering, civil services, and senior corporate roles. In Yadgir, only 41 out of every 100 women are literate and engaged in education. She also described infrastructure deficiencies, citing the presence of schools lacking teachers, functional toilets, and adequate classrooms.
The Finance Minister drew attention to poverty indicators in Yadgir, stating that despite the nation’s success in lifting millions out of poverty, the district remained among the worst affected. She referenced the post-2014 focus on multidimensional poverty measurement, which has led to approximately 250 million people being lifted out of poverty nationwide. However, she noted that Yadgir continues to be one of the districts experiencing the highest levels of poverty.
Contrasting Yadgir with Bengaluru, the state capital which enjoys the highest per-capita income in Karnataka, Sitharaman observed that Yadgir ranks among the lowest. The district’s economy remains heavily reliant on agriculture, with nearly 75 per cent of its land under cultivation.
The Union Minister also inaugurated the Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre at Badepalli village in Yadgir. The centre, funded under the MPLAD Scheme in collaboration with NABARD, is designed to serve as a hub for processing groundnuts into various high-demand value-added products. The anchor Farmer Producer Company, Badepalli Women Farmers Producer Company Ltd., will manage the unit, integrating processing, training, and marketing. This centre aims to modernise post-harvest infrastructure, implement quality control, improve direct farm-to-market linkages, empower farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and create branded products for both domestic and global markets.
The Chenab Times News Desk