CHES Bhubaneswar observed “Women in Agriculture Day”

Bhubaneswar: Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES-IIHR), Bhubaneswar observed “Women in Agriculture Day ”, at village Kanteikoli under block Mohana, district Gajapati, adopted under ‘Tribal Sub plan’ programme on Monday .  At the outset Dr. P. Srinivas, Senior Scientist, welcomed the gathered villagers and highlighted significance of observing the ‘Women in Agriculture Day’ to recognise the role of women in agriculture enterprise.

He stressed upon the importance of participation of rural women in the various programmes organised by various research and developmental organisations to acquaint themselves about the various women friendly technologies being developed by the scientists.

Representatives of different Self Help Groups(SHG) chaired the dais and shared their views with the gathering. They encouraged the farm women to adopt novel women friendly farm technologies to increase their participation in the farm activities.

Jhunu Malik of Jeevan dakra SHG, Kanteikoli, involved in jackfruit minimal processing, called upon the womenfolk to organise themselves in self help groups and to take up small enterprises like raw jackfruit processing and commercial nursery to generate extra family income.

Sevati Gamang of Priyadarshini SHG, stressed upon the need for skill development in the rural women for their economic empowerment. During the group discussion, the farm women shared their experiences and constraints about various TSP interventions like backyard kitchen gardening, commercial nursery and minimal processing and marketing of the raw jackfruit.

More than 60 farm women and other farmers from different villages viz. Kanteikoli, Gudisahi, Kendupada, Sanakhani, Malliapdar, etc. participated in the programme.  The programme was coordinated by Dr. P. Srinivas, Senior Scientist of the Station.