District Collector Sumit Kumar on Friday urged officials to launch a concerted drive to strengthen rural women’s livelihoods through targeted interventions in agriculture, horticulture, allied sectors, and self-help group (SHG) activities.

Chairing a coordination meeting, the Collector instructed officials to prepare action plans under the annual credit programme to boost SHGs. He stressed the need for large-scale training in kitchen gardening, poultry, and dairy farming, along with supplying seeds and raising awareness at the grassroots level.

“Every SHG member should have access to tools that can turn household opportunities into sustainable income. Kitchen gardens, poultry units, and dairy farms have already proven to give a major fillip to the rural economy,” Mr. Sumit Kumar said.

The Collector asked Anganwadi staff to conduct nutrition awareness camps for pregnant women in a mission mode, with a special focus on malnourished children, and to extend them adequate support. He directed that Anganwadi centres be inspected regularly and field staff submit reports periodically.

Mr. Sumit Kumar also instructed the Agriculture Department to train women in drone-based farming, natural cultivation practices, and millet promotion. He asked officials to focus on tissue culture of bananas, papayas, and other horticultural crops in the eastern mandals of Chittoor district, including Nagari, Vijayapuram, Karvetinagaram, and SR Puram.

The Collector further directed officials to identify women dairy farmers, support fodder development, and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach genuine beneficiaries.