Skill Upgradation Programme on 'Improved Methods of Vegetable Cultivation during Kharif' for farm women under SC Sub-Plan organized at ICAR-CIWA on 27.07.2019

ICAR-CIWA organised an on-campus training programme for the farm women of Cuttack District, Odisha under the SC Sub Plan on 27.07.2019 in which 42 farm women of Chamrapada and Sabalpur villages of Cuttack district participated. Most of the farm women of Scheduled caste community work in the field as cultivator or as agricultural labourers to supplement the household income. Those who do not possess cultivable land, take the land on lease and do the cultivation. The farm women of the two villages mostly undertake intensive vegetable cultivation. Therefore, the present training programme was organized to update their knowledge in the improved methods of cultivation especially of vegetable crops. They were also provided with the seed kit sourced from ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi which contained high yielding assorted seeds of ten vegetable crops recommended for the area. Besides, they were also given minor tools for homestead agriculture which included Hand Sprayer, Hand Hoe, Secateurs, Improved Sickle, Khurpi, Hand Shovel, Trench Hope, Liner including seeds of improved varieties of 5 other vegetables. The training programme was organized under the SC sub-plan with an overarching aim of 'empowering farm women in agriculture' and the topic of the skill upgradation programme was "Improved Methods of Vegetable Cultivation during Kharif".

The skill upgradation programme was graced by the Chief Guest Dr P.K. Agarwal, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor of OUAT, Bhubaneswar, who spoke about the importance of health and well being of farm women for smooth running of the household. He also said that the farm women should strive to enhance their income by undertaking different work in horticulture and other allied sectors of agriculture at their homestead. He encouraged the farm women by emphasizing that, earning money begets respect and also helps in the household nutritional security. The Director ICAR-CIWA, Dr S.K. Srivastava outlined the various programmes being implemented by the Institute in improving the livelihood of farm women not only in the state of Odisha but also across the country through the AICRP on Women in Agriculture running in 12 states in India. Dr Anil Kumar, nodal officer of 'Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav-II' welcomed the guests, Dr J.C. Jeeva nodal officer of SC Sub Plan spoke about the activities being undertaken by the Institute under this plan and Dr A.K. Panda, presented an overview of the activities of the Institute. Three technical sessions were organized which were coordinated by Dr L.P. Sahoo, Dr S. Mishra, Sh. D.N. Sarangi and Sh. B.C. Behra in which, improved methods of vegetable cultivation, drudgery reduction methods and entrepreneurship development by farm women were emphasized. During interaction with experts, different queries raised by farmwomen on cultivation, processing and marketing of horticultural crops and food grains were answered. The inaugural programme was also attended by all staff members of the Institute and the overall coordination was done by Dr Anil Kumar, Dr. Sabita Mishra, Dr Anant Sarkar, Dr Laxmipriya Sahoo, Dr Debendra Nath Sadangi and Sri Bhikari Charan Behera.