‘Woman Power’ is Making a Difference

Women in India are currently not only becoming change-makers through their new ideas, but they are also proving time and again that they have what it takes to be the driving force in the various sectors, particularly the food sector.

Women entrepreneurs and their growing presence in India have had a tremendous impact on the country’s social and economic demography. Men have historically dominated most aspects of this industry, particularly in positions of decision-making authority. However, women are increasingly exerting a substantial impact on how the food and beverage industry is formed, as well as the advertising department of food products. 

As the sector continues to grow and innovate, more and more women will join the top executive ranks. At some companies, women are beginning to take on leadership roles in the food and beverage industries. 

Some of the women who are setting an example in this industry include Karyna Bajaj, executive director of KA Hospitality, Dipna Anand, award-winning celebrity chef and owner of Dip in Brilliant, Lisa Suwal, vice president in marketing and sales of Prasuma Meats & Delicatessen brand, Pallavi Jayswal, a chef and a businesswoman, co-founder at Uno Más -Tapas Bar Kitchen, etc. 

Also, there are other inspiring women who are spearheading the growth of the food sector of India. For instance, Puja Sahu, co-founder of The Potbelly, Ramya Ravi, director of Nandhana Group, etc. Furthermore, there are other food startups such as iPakka food, Dream a Dozen, The Atta Girl, etc, thriving with women leading such companies. 

Additionally, some of the other powerful women making a great impact on the food business include Pankaj Bhadouria, who is the face of numerous renowned businesses and the host of several cooking shows, including the popular ’3 Course with Pankaj.’ She has also written and co-written a number of cookbooks. She was the first MasterChef Winner in the world to have her name on an official MasterChef Cookbook. 

Another name is Rashmi Daga, the founder and owner of one of the most popular food-tech companies – FreshMenu, an online restaurant that currently serves around 14,000 orders per day from its app and website in Mumbai, South Delhi, Bengaluru, and Gurugram. 

Another such example is Kanchan Devi, the president of a village-level women’s vegetable producer group and a member of the Farmer Producer Organisation’s Board of Directors. She cultivates vegetables on her 0.5-acre plot of land using Integrated Nutrient Management and Integrated Pest Management. She has also reported a 30 per cent improvement in net return from vegetable farming as a result of the recommended package of techniques learned during her training. 

However, women in the Indian food industry are still facing certain challenges. Despite the extent of work done by women, their involvement in the food and agriculture sector is largely unacknowledged. 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), women make up at least 43 per cent of the agricultural workforce in developing countries. Nonetheless, women in rural and agricultural livelihoods continually have less access to resources and opportunities than males. Also, women still face social norms and barriers that prohibit them from fully expressing their leadership. 

Few women around the world have been continuously working to close the gender gap and empower women in the food system. In India, Harsharan Kaur (State coordinator at Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Bharat) and Reema Nanavaty (Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India, are focusing on women’s economic empowerment by assisting in the establishment of women-owned businesses and women-led supply chains in food processing and agriculture business. 

As a result, despite the problems that women encounter in India’s food business, women are likely to continue to lead and alter the food industry for the better in the coming years. 

 

Karan Chechi, Director, TechSci, Research