What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to empower tribal women in Sirohi through skill-based training in fennel processing to enhance their socio-economic status.

February 14, 2026Open Access

Empowering tribal women through skill-based fennel processing training: a pathway to sustainable socio-economic development in Sirohi, Rajasthan

Key Points

The aim is to empower tribal women in Sirohi through skill-based training in fennel processing to enhance their socio-economic status.
Implemented structured skill-focused training programs over 8 years
Conducted one-day, three-day, and seven-day sessions during the cropping season
Provided practical training to 500 tribal women in groups of 25–30
Focused on optimized harvesting, grading, drying, threshing, and packaging of fennel
Improved processing efficiency and adoption of better practices in 70% of fennel-growing areas
Estimated an additional return of ₹ 42.94 crores at the district level
Trained women reported higher daily earnings of ₹ 500–750 compared to unskilled workers at ₹ 250–300
Significantly increased household income and improved livelihood security

Abstract

Primary processing of fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare ) in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan is mainly carried out by tribal women, who are a vital but under-supported part of the local agri-value chain. Despite their important role, there is significant potential to increase their income through focused capacity-building and better access to suitable technologies. To address this, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sirohi, implemented a structured series of skill-focused training programs over 8 years (2008–2016), including one-day, three-day, and seven-day sessions during the cropping season. A total of 500 tribal women, organized into small groups of 25–30 participants, received hands-on, practical training. The training emphasized scientifically relevant aspects of fennel primary processing, such as optimized harvesting of umbels at the post-mature stage, standardized grading into A to C categories, and improved drying using modified shade houses built with local materials to preserve the green color and volatile compounds. It also covered hygienic threshing and packaging using polythene-lined bags to maintain qualities like texture, aroma, and market shelf-life. Results show that the training greatly improved processing efficiency and the adoption of better practices, leading to the transformation of nearly 70% (3,888 ha) of fennel-growing areas into primary processing operations up to 2024–25. Economic analysis estimates an additional return of ₹ 42.94 crores at the district level. The trained women reported higher daily earnings (₹ 500–750) compared to unskilled workers (₹ 250–300), highlighting the positive impact of skill development on wage differences. Overall, the intervention significantly increased household income, improved livelihood security, and raised the socio-economic status of rural and tribal women. These findings emphasize the importance of skill development and decentralized primary processing as effective strategies to strengthen rural value chains and promote women’s economic empowerment in marginalized regions.

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