VISV SHAKTI
Women Leading the Future of Food
India's Women Leadership Network for Food Systems Transformation
ViSV
Universe
Shakti
Energy. Strength.
A platform connecting women from soil to system. Bringing together farmers and grassroots innovators with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and global partners.
The ViSV Shakti Tree
ROOTED IN WOMEN.
REACHING THE WORLD.
Canopy
Branches
Trunk
Roots
The Heart of ViSV Shakti
Lakshmi Devi
Padma Ammulu
Kalyani Prasad
Satyavati Raju
Rajeshwari Kurma
Our Philosophy
Women must not only be included in food systems — they must be recognised, valued, and rewarded.
01
Recognise HerAcknowledge women as farmers, knowledge holders, and leaders.
02
Value HerMake women's work visible in markets, data, and policy.
03
Pay HerFair economic opportunities and enterprise pathways.
04
Publish HerDocument women's knowledge, innovations, and leadership.
05
Platform HerConnect women to markets, networks, and global conversations.
The Roots
The Dryland Woman Farmer
At the center of ViSV Shakti is the dryland woman farmer.
Across India's rainfed landscapes, women cultivate crops under uncertain rainfall, conserve seeds, and sustain local food systems.
They work in some of the most climate-vulnerable regions, yet maintain practices that protect soil, biodiversity, and resilient agriculture. Despite this, their knowledge and leadership remain largely under-recognised in markets, policy, and data systems.
Early Signals of Change
Women Engaged
Across food systems and leadership journeys.
Businesses Incubated
Women-led enterprises emerging across local value chains.
State Network Activated
Connecting women leaders statewide.
Micro Communities
Peer networks driving local action.
Leadership Trainings
Building enterprise and leadership capacity.
Institutional Support
The ViSV Shakti concept has been developed with catalytic support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the Coalition for Food Systems Transformation in India (CoFTI) under the Global Programme for Food Systems Transformation (GV-TES) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The initiative is currently being incubated by the ViSV Foundation, with the vision of building a scalable global leadership network for women in food and climate systems.
Stories in Motion
A visual chronicle of the women, fields, and enterprises driving the millet revival across Andhra Pradesh.
Harvesting Hope
Traditional cultivation of organic millets in sunlit fields
Shared Success
Women leaders sorting grains in a local processing facility
Generational Wisdom
South Indian grandmother teaching a young girl to cook millet roti
Savoring Health
Freshly prepared traditional millet delicacies in local cafes
Cultivating Roots
Rural women transplanting fresh green millet seedlings
Drying Fields
Millet grains spread out to dry in the sunlit village courtyard
Harvesting Hope
Traditional cultivation of organic millets in sunlit fields
Shared Success
Women leaders sorting grains in a local processing facility
Generational Wisdom
South Indian grandmother teaching a young girl to cook millet roti
Savoring Health
Freshly prepared traditional millet delicacies in local cafes
Cultivating Roots
Rural women transplanting fresh green millet seedlings
Drying Fields
Millet grains spread out to dry in the sunlit village courtyard
Grassroots Commerce
Selling organic millet seeds and grains at local weekly markets
Packaging Pride
Proudly packaging nutrition-dense grains in local enterprise units
Terraces of Life
Lush green terrace millet fields in Araku Valley, Eastern Ghats
Fields of Gold
Sunrise over step-cultivated millet terrace fields in Araku hills
Rooted Council
Women leaders discussing farming initiatives under the Banyan tree
Cafe Visionaries
Three proud young women entrepreneurs at their organic millet cafe
Grassroots Commerce
Selling organic millet seeds and grains at local weekly markets
Packaging Pride
Proudly packaging nutrition-dense grains in local enterprise units
Terraces of Life
Lush green terrace millet fields in Araku Valley, Eastern Ghats
Fields of Gold
Sunrise over step-cultivated millet terrace fields in Araku hills
Rooted Council
Women leaders discussing farming initiatives under the Banyan tree
Cafe Visionaries
Three proud young women entrepreneurs at their organic millet cafe
Join the Network
ViSV Shakti is a growing ecosystem connecting women, institutions, markets, and global partners.
