Scientists-Farmers Interface Meeting was organized under the Project on ‘Developing gender sensitive model for doubling farmers’ income by addressing gender concerns and technological gaps’ at Tarkei Bounshaput village in Khordha district on 29th December, 2017. The programme was presided over by Dr. S.K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA, which was graced by the participation of Shri. Bijoy Ku. Das, Sarpanch, Mallipur Grama Panchayat, and Smt. Anjali Pradhan, Ward Member of Bounshaput village.

The interface was organized to sensitize the farm families about the project objectives, need to assess the gender concerns in accessing productive resources and extension services among the farm families, the need for providing equal opportunity for men and women in implementing the technological modules, motivation of rural youth to involve in agriculture sector/ adoption of various vocations with entrepreneurship mode and on the latest technologies in agriculture and allied sectors.

The Scientific and Technical team from ICAR-CIWA, consisting of Dr. Sabita Mishra, Dr. A.K. Panda, Dr. Jyoti Nayak, Dr. Tanuja, Smt. Ankita Sahu, Shri. Manoranjan Prusty and Shri. B.C. Behera delivered technical talks and attended the queries of the farm families. Drudgery reducing minor farm tools were also distributed during the programme. Earlier, the PI of the project, Dr. J. Charles Jeeva welcomed the participants and briefed about the project. Smt. Bishnupriya Moharana, AAO, ICAR-CIWA offered a vote of thanks. The programme was attended by about 120 farmers, including farm women from three self help groups. The event was well covered by the print and electronic media.