The “Green Innovation Centres for the agriculture and food sector” (GIC) project, implemented by the GIZ, aims to enhance the agricultural value chains in various countries by promoting sustainable practices and innovations. The “Atingi”-platform, which was created as part of the project, can be seen as a knowledge hub that provides access to the various knowledge outputs of the initiative.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development cooperation (BMZ) commissioned the Global Project “Green Innovation Centers for the Food and Agriculture Sector” (GIC) to intensify measures to combat Post Harvest Losses (PHL). In this context, a study on the economic sustainability of post-harvest investments has been conducted in June 2023. The objective of this study is to provide an objective and economically differentiated analysis of investments targeting PHL in the selected partner countries.

This abstract highlights the transformative journey of Lakshmi Devi, a farmer-turned-entrepreneur in Nandgaon, Uttarakhand, facilitated by the Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA). It emphasizes the impact of MVDA’s Farming Innovation for Women Empowerment (FIWE) project in rural development.

Through qualitative analysis, the narrative demonstrates how MVDA’s initiatives, such as women's groups, skill development, and access to government schemes like ATMA, empowered Lakshmi Devi, enabling her transition from a landless farmer to a successful entrepreneur.