Capacity building of farm women for Climate Resilient Agriculture in Keonjhar District

Two capacity building programmes were organized on 14th and 15th February 2022 in Harichandanpur and Aanadpur blocks of Keonjhar district under the OIIPCRA project titled “Empowering farm women through climate smart intensification and diversification in minor irrigation command areas of Keonjhar District (Odisha)”. The first capacity building programme titled “Production enhancement of sunflower through good agricultural practices (GAP)” was at Jamujodi village under Jamujodi MIP command area in Harichandanpur block. The programme was attended by Mrs. Manjulata Nayak, (Agriculture Overseer, Harichandanpur), Sh. Siba Nayak, (Shrishti NGO) and other line department officials. Fifty farm women participated in the programme. Talk on good agricultural practice ie. Precision nutrient management in sunflower for higher oil yield was delivered by Dr. Praveen Jakhar, PI (OIIPCRA project). Mrs. Manjulata Nayak emphasized on critical measures for higher water productivity under climate stress. measures for drudgery reduction for farm women in sunflower cultivation was delivered by Dr. Dr. Sachidananda Swain, Co-PI (OIIPCRA project). This was followed by field visit for demonstration of the GAPs.

On 15th February 2022, second capacity building programme on “Integrated pest management in green gram for higher profitability” was organized at Jogiabandha village under Chakratirtha MIP command village in Anandapur block. The programme was attended by Mrs. Subhashree Nayak, (Assistant Agricultural Officer, Anandpur), Ms. Banaja Nayak, (Agriculture Overseer, Anandpur) and Krushak Saathis. Thirty-five farm women beneficiaries from the village attended the capacity building programme. Dr. Praveen Jakhar explained the importance of pest management and highlighted the women friendly technologies developed by ICAR-CIWA. Mrs. Subhashree Nayak, (Assistant Agricultural Officer, Anandpur) laid emphasis of Precision disease at critical stages in green gram for higher water productivity. Ms. Banaja Nayak elucidated the importance of organic farming practices for controlling pest and disease in Green gram. Dr. Sachidananda Swain, Sr. Scientist (AS & PE) emphasized need for the market linkage of organic farm produce with value addition for fetching better market price. Women farmers shared their experiences as well as challenges faced during different farm related activities. The capacity building programme concluded with field visit to different women beneficiaries for demonstration of different GAP in green gram.