International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Arpita Sharma Kandpal, Jitendra Kwatra, Manish Bajpai, Pooja Goswami and Akansha Joshi

abstract
Empowering tribal women through skill development and livelihood enhancement initiatives is crucial for fostering economic independence, decision making ability and social well-being. The present study examines the impact of value addition training on the knowledge, economic motivation, and livelihood security of tribal women in Uttarakhand. The training focused on enhancing their skills in producing, packaging, and marketing value added products. A pre-and post-training evaluation was conducted to assess changes in their understanding, and knowledge of value added products. The findings reveal a significant improvement in the knowledge levels of participants, with an average knowledge improvement from 14.7 per cent before training to 70.8 per cent after training, resulting in an overall gain of 56.1 points. Additionally, the study highlights the role of such capacity-building programs in strengthening tribal women's participation in the local economy and promoting sustainable livelihood practices. The results emphasize the need for continued support through policy interventions, financial assistance, and market linkages to ensure the long-term impact of these initiatives.