Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part A (2025)

Millets, the nutri-cereals, have the potential to play a crucial role in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. Pearl millet provides staple food for millions under the most vulnerable farming system in dry and semi-arid regions of Asia and Africa. Pearl millet is well adapted to drought prone areas, low soil fertility and high temperature situations. In India, it is the fourth most important cereal crop after rice, wheat and sorghum. Millets have a long history in India, stretching back to the subcontinent's inception. There has recently been a revived appreciation for these nutritious cereals as a result of the growing trend towards wholesome and sustainable meals. Besides, millets are also rich source of dietary fiber, phytochemicals, micronutrients and nutri-cereals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a training programme on knowledge gain, skill acquisition and adoption of value-added pearl millet products among rural women. The present study was carried out in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mandkola, with sample size of 240 Schedule Caste rural women. Thirty women per group (total of 8 groups) received training on preparation of value-added pearl millet products like ladoo, matar, sev, shakkarpara, cake, cookies, suhali, chat, cutlet, and burfi. Post training knowledge gain, skill acquisition and perceived feasibility of developed products was calculated. The results indicated that at pre–exposure training stage, none of the women had adequate knowledge about preparation of pearl millet products, while 20.0 to 27.0 percent of women had marginally adequate knowledge about ingredients and method of preparation of pearl millet sev, matar and ladoo (21.7 &18.3%). After exposed to training, above 80.0 percent of women had adequate knowledge regarding preparation of pearl millet ladoo, shakkarpara (79.1 &82.9%) and pearl millet cake (76.6 &80.0%). After getting training, skill of women improved significantly in preparation of pearl millet ladoo, sev, shakkarpara, suhali and cake. Overall perceived adoption feasibility index was 80.37 percent, meaning high percentage of adoption feasibility. Majority of women perceived that pearl millet products were initially low cost, socially, culturally compatible and more over easily demonstrable to fellow rural women. The findings suggest that such programs can contribute to improved livelihoods and empowerment of rural women.