Jaipur, Feb. 10 -- The Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (RCDF) is launching a statewide training programme to convert more than 19,000 livestock farmers into skilled "Dairy Farmer-Entrepreneurs" under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), run by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The initiative seeks to elevate farmers beyond traditional animal husbandry by imparting modern dairy technologies, business management skills, and entrepreneurial training. It targets both male and female livestock farmers to foster a structured, competitive, and sustainable dairy business ecosystem. RCDF managing director Shruti Bhardwaj said the programme aligns with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's flagship "Gopal Sakhi" scheme, which empowers rural women. "Under the programme, women will be trained as 'Gopal Sakhis' to provide technical support, guidance, and business assistance to farmers at the grassroots level," she said. Participants will also learn to run "Saras Mini Marts", gaining skills in retail operations, sales, marketing, customer management, and stock handling to create self-employment opportunities for rural women. Bhardwaj described the effort as a step towards a circular economy in the dairy sector, advancing women's empowerment, local employment, and market expansion for Saras products. She noted it marks RCDF's first large-scale, entrepreneurship-focused training under central ministry auspices. Animal husbandry and gopalan minister Joraram Kumawat said the initiative would bolster the rural economy by spurring self-employment and raising incomes....