Seeds of change: breaking barriers in tribal women millet-entrepreneurship for community development

Millet-based entrepreneurship is emerging as a transformative avenue for both individual empowerment and broader community development. In an era marked by evolving agricultural challenges and the quest for diversified income streams, tribal women milletpreneurs are harnessing traditional wisdom and innovative practices to secure their livelihoods. The study aims to explore the barriers faced by tribal women milletpreneurs from Odisha, India, in millet-based entrepreneurial activities. Employing Relative to an Identified Distribution (RIDIT) analysis, the research examines and prioritizes the barriers. The findings highlight language as the most significant constraint, followed by access to resources, training, market access, and others. These insights underscore the need for targeted interventions that not only empower tribal women but also advance rural, social, and economic resilience. Ultimately, this research contributes to the empowerment of tribal women, enhances food security, supports sustainable rural livelihoods and community development, and offers valuable guidance for policymakers and government institutions in crafting strategies for inclusive growth in millet-based entrepreneurship.