Ludhiana, October 11 — The Punjab government is set to launch an ambitious initiative to turn women farmers into successful agribusiness entrepreneurs. The programme, titled “Business Bibas,” will be inaugurated on October 15 at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, under the state’s Department of Food Processing.
The initiative aims to mentor women farmers, help them transition from traditional cultivation to profitable agribusiness ventures, and build sustainable local employment opportunities.
Principal Secretary, Food Processing Department, Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, who conceptualised the programme, said Business Bibas is designed to make women farmers decision-makers and enterprise owners. “Across India’s rural landscape, farm women have long been the silent drivers of food security, seed preservation, and household sustenance. Yet, despite their deep involvement in agriculture, their participation in decision-making and enterprise creation remains limited,” she noted.
“This initiative aims to empower farm women with entrepreneurial skills. The transformation requires more than just technical knowhow — it demands exposure to business planning, market orientation, and financial independence. Through structured training and handholding, farm women can evolve into confident ‘Business Bibas’ — entrepreneurs rooted in agriculture but driven by innovation, quality, and value creation,” Bhandari said.
Initially, the programme will select self-help groups (SHGs) already active in agro-food processing. Around 30 such groups have been invited to the launch event, said Dr. K.B. Singh, Director of the Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI).
“Among these, we will assess how many are ready to scale up their activities into full-fledged businesses. They will be trained in identifying business opportunities, resource management, and market analysis. The programme will also focus on business management, production, and digital marketing,” Dr. Singh told The Tribune.
Participants will receive support in conducting market surveys, price trend analysis, and exploring e-commerce platforms to sell their products. Once the selected Business Bibas estimate their financial needs, the government will help them access funding through central and state schemes such as the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), and NABARD, along with financial assistance from banks under the Kisan Credit Card and MUDRA loan programmes.
