DRWA Celebrated ‘Technology Week for Women in Agriculture’

The Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA), Bhubaneswar celebrated ‘Technology Week for Women in Agriculture’ during the period from January 22-27, 2014.
Sl No
Date
 Programme
1
January 22, 2014
 Off-campus programme, Remote tribal village at Gajapati District.
2
January 23, 2014
 Off-campus programme , Sakhigopal village in Puri district of Odisha
3
January 24, 2014
 Off-campus programme, Tribal village viz., Guptapada , Khurda district
4
January 25, 27 2014
 On-campus programme, DRWA ,Bhubanewsar
The celebrations started with an off-campus programme on January 22, 2014 in a very remote tribal village viz., K.M. Bhalia Shahi in R. Udayagiri block of Gajapati District. The programme was conducted in association with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gajapati. As a part of the programme, an ‘Animal Health Camp’ was organized in which 230 large animals such as bullocks and cows; 249 small animals (goats and sheeps) as well as 302 poultry birds were given mass treatment. The programme also included knowledge and skill upgradation through demonstration of gender-friendly maize dehusker cum sheller, developed by DRWA using ergonomic and mechanical considerations. Awareness was created on ‘Drudgery Reducing Implements for Farm Women’. This was followed by distribution of hampers of women-friendly, drudgery reducing minor farm tools to all the tribal families.

The second off-campus programme consisted of a ‘Farmers -Scientist- Interaction’ and training on protected cultivation of high value crops, which was organised at village Sakhigopal in Puri district of Odisha on January 23, 2014. In this programme, the importance of technological intervention like improved varieties, seed treatment, seedlings raising techniques of vegetables in protrays inside protected structure and protected cultivation of high value crops, erection of low cost protected structure, grading, linkages of marketing and getting better price of produce and nutritional security through fruits and vegetables among farm family was highlighted. The third off-campus programme was conducted on January 24, 2014 in a tribal village viz., Guptapada in Jatni block of Khurda district, wherein a ‘Training on rearing of backyard poultry’ and demonstration of immunization of poultry chicks was organzied. In all the three off-campus programmes, ‘Knowledge Debates’ were also conducted.
In continuation of these three off-campus programmes, about 110 farm women from Guptapada, Haridamoda, Suila and Goriapokhori villages in Odisha, had an exposure visit to the Institute on January 25, 2014. During this on-campus field visits, they were exposed to different technological models developed by this Institute in farming system approach which includes, crop husbandry, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, farm machinery and home science, which can enhance their livelihood. They also participated in the interactive session with the Scientists of this Directorate, and enriched their knowledge and clarified their technical queries.
In the concluding day on January 27, 2014, about 400 farm women from different parts of Odisha had an exposure to the technologies developed by this Directorate as well as other ICAR institutes viz., CRRI, CARI, CHES, CTCRI, DWM, CIFA and a public sector undertaking Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. (PPL), who had exhibited their technologies during the programme. They also attended an interface with the experts from different fields of agriculture.The valedictory session was presided over by Dr. Neelam Grewal, Director, DRWA. Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Prof. Dr. Manoranjan Kar participated as Chief Guest and distributed prizes to the winners of knowledge debates conducted during the three off-campus programmes. The new website of DRWA was also launched by the chief guest during the programme.
All the participants showed enthusiasm in the activities undertaken and were appreciative of the efforts of the DRWA. The ‘Technology Week for Women in Agriculture’ celebrations of the Directorate, consisted of three off-campus and two on-campus programmes created a significant impact on the enrichment of technological knowledge of farm women, which will result in their livelihood enhancement in the long run.