Lucknow, July 14 (KNN) To create employment opportunities for rural women, the Uttar Pradesh government is engaging women self-help groups for growing new varieties of sugarcane seedling in nurseries.

Seed cane nurseries in the state have so far helped in socio-economic upliftment of over 59,000 women associated with 3,004 women self-help groups. These women have produced over 24.41 crore seedlings through the single bud and bud chip techniques.

The state government, under the Deendayal Antyodaya National Rural Livelihood Mission, is emphasising on providing bank loans to women SHGs to encourage them to improve their living standards and become self-reliant.

So far 58,905 rural women have been provided self-employment through this scheme and a total employment of 1, 52,440 working days has been created.

The sugarcane department of the state government is also imparting training to rural women under the National Food Preservation Scheme so that they can prepare the best sugarcane nurseries for the distribution of seeds.

All the necessary equipment’s are being provided to women through grants and with the assistance of sugar mills.

This initiative by the Uttar Pradesh sugarcane department has not only helped in providing employment to the rural women but has also ensured the quick availability of quality seeds, especially, the new sugarcane varieties like Co 13235 Co 14201, and Co 15030, among others.  (KNN Bureau)