Institute-Industry-Stakeholders Interface at ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar

ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized an Institute-Industry-Stakeholders Interface on "Development of Gender Sensitive Entrepreneurship Model through Institute-Industry-Stakeholders Linkage on Convergence Mode" under ICAR funded Extramural Project on 22 January, 2020. At the outset, Dr. Narendra Singh Rathore, Hon'ble VC, MPUAT, Udaipur and Former DDG (Agril. Education), ICAR, New Delhi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Dr. Rathore during his presidential address emphasized the importance of such Interface meeting in bridging the gap between women farmers and entrepreneurship development. Dr. Lipi Das, Pr. Scientist and PI of the Project welcomed all the delegates and elaborated the purpose of the Interface and also presented the achievements under the above Project. The Director of the Institute, Dr. Santosh Kumar Srivastava, during his address emphasized the potential role of women farmers in bringing revolution in agriculture and allied sectors The programme was attended by personnel from various Govt. and private organizations viz., APICOL, OMFED, OFMRDC, Milk Mantra Dairy Industry, Kamal Enterprises, Art of Organic and Unicus Engineers Pvt. Ltd.; financial institution like NABARD; NGOs like NIGAM, PRADAN; Women Farmer Groups and Producer Organizations viz., Women group OMFED, Ananya Mahila Bikas Samiti, Paschimeswar WFPO and Women group ICARDA. The Interface offered opportunities for several stakeholders to share their experiences, success stories and constraints perceived in the journey of building up the enterprise. The developing women groups interested to initiate the venture in dairy, horticulture and farm implement based enterprise got first hand exposure in setting up their business. Such Interface meeting among all stakeholders enabled in paving the pathway towards development of a model: "A sustainable Gender Sensitive Entrepreneurship Model in dairy, horticulture and farm implement based enterprises in convergence mode". At the end Dr. B. Sahoo, Pr. Scientist and Co-PI of the project offered the vote of thanks.