ICAR- CIWA, Bhubaneswar established Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) for SC Women entrepreneurship development of Kusapli & Pacnchabhuti villages of Jagannath Prasad Block, Ganjam, Odisha

ICAR- Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA) established two custom hiring centres (CHC) at Kusapali and Panchabhuti village of Jagannath Prasad Block of Ganjam District for entrepreneurship development establishment of Scheduled Caste (SC) farm women. The CHCs were inaugurated by Mr. Soroj Nayak, Jirabadi GP, Ramakrushna Sethi, Rauti GP and Mrs Sital Barel, BPC (Mission Shakti) on 12th June 2023. Dr. Biswanath Sahoo, Pr. Scientist ICAR-CIWA and Dr. Praveen Jakhar, Sr. Scientist, ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar took this initiative under scheduled caste sub plan (SCSP) component. About 100 farmers including 60 farm women and men participated in the programme. The Memorandum of Agreement (MoAs) was signed with respective SHG members Maa Thanguni Devi SHG, Kusaplli and Sora Debi SHG, Panchabhuti during the programme. Dr. Praveen Jakhar explained the objective of the establishment of CHC centre and use of processing equipments like manual Groundnut decorticator, power operated maize Sheller, Disel pump, Power operated chaff cutter, Poultry feed grinder for primary and secondary value addition. Dr. Biswanath Sahoo appraised the work done by SHG farm women and urged the farm women to work together for maximizing the benefit of CHC Centre. The facilities through establishment of CHC are also extended to the small and marginal farmer in the locality for income generation. The accessibility of CHC centre is emphasized for the livelihood support to those who cannot afford to purchase costly equipments or machines to boost up income through value addition product development process. In this programme Scientists of KVK, Bhnjanager Dr Prashant kumar Panda, Dr. Sidharth Ranabijuli, Mr. Chandrasekhar Panigrahi,Forest Guard,Mrs. Subhra Pandit, Coordinator (Forest range), Shri Gautama Parida, YP. The programme ended with vote of thanks by Mr. Mahendra Nayak, Local progressive farmer.