The Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), Ludhiana, organised a colourful entrepreneurship contest on the occasion of Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas, providing a platform for women from Punjab to showcase their skills, creativity and entrepreneurial potential.
30 Women participated in four categories: Food Processing, Skill-Based Entrepreneurship, Natural Farming and Innovation. The contest celebrated the entrepreneurial journeys of women who are turning their traditional knowledge, practical skills and passion into potential business opportunities.
The contest was inaugurated by the Director, PAMETI, who encouraged the participants to remain productively engaged in business ventures by making use of the skills they already possess. He emphasised that the abilities women develop through everyday household activities can become the foundation of sustainable enterprises and additional income.
Dr. Harmeet Kaur, deputy director BM motivated the participants to develop products that offer customers greater convenience and ease of use. She highlighted the potential of ready-to-use spice mixes and premixes for preparing gravies, along with traditional Punjabi delicacies such as tauri wala saag and haare wali daal. She noted that such products could cater to consumers seeking authentic, home-style food while creating market opportunities for women with excellent cooking skills who may not have previously explored business beyond their homes. PAMETI Faculty engaged the participants by conducting activities like Punjabi boliyan, Smart Walk, celebration of the event through cultural activities etc.
The judges across all four categories were impressed by the inspiring stories of the participating women, their determination and their efforts to transform their skills into entrepreneurial ventures. They also appreciated the efforts of the PAMETI team in organising the event and creating an encouraging platform for women to present their products and share their journeys.
The contest reinforced the importance of recognising women’s existing skills, connecting traditional knowledge with market demand and promoting entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic empowerment. Through initiatives such as Business Bibaz, PAMETI continues to encourage women to move from household skills to market-oriented enterprises and become more confident contributors to rural economic development.