Women In Agri-Value Chains in Kerala: Analysis of Entrepreneurial Types, Challenges, and Success Stories

This scholarly article investigates the evolving role of women within Agri-value chains in Kerala, with an emphasis on the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial categories, the complex challenges encountered, and the narratives of success that have arisen despite systemic impediments. Utilizing a review-based methodological approach, the research consolidates insights from academic publications, governmental documents, case analyses, and grey literature to cultivate a holistic comprehension of women’s involvement across diverse phases of the Agri-value chain—from production and processing to marketing and distribution. The examination delineates women agripreneurs into specific classifications predicated on enterprise scale, ownership configuration, and market orientation, encompassing micro-entrepreneurs, collective entrepreneurs (such as those affiliated with Kudumbashree units), and Agri-tech innovators. The results indicate that women consistently confront enduring obstacles such as restricted access to credit, limitations in land ownership, gender-specific labor roles, and insufficient exposure to technology and markets. Notwithstanding these constraints, numerous success narratives underscore the tenacity, innovation, and community-centric strategies that have empowered women to establish sustainable entrepreneurial avenues. These narratives exemplify how institutional support, capacity-building initiatives, and digital tools have facilitated the transition from subsistence-level engagement to lucrative, scalable enterprises. The findings underscore the imperative for targeted policy interventions, inclusive training initiatives, and enhanced infrastructure to augment women’s agency and productivity within the Agri-value chains of Kerala.