A national webinar on "Partnering Women in Value Chain Development : A Promising Way for Creating Sustained Livelihood and Agripreneurship" was organized by ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar on 17th March, 2021 through virtual platform. The programme was attended by about 130 participants including scientists, technocrats, research and extension personnel and students from ICAR institutes, SAUs, state govt. officials across the nation.

At the outset, Dr. Biswanath Sahoo, Pr. Scientist welcomed all the dignitaries and participants. The objective and importance of the organising webinar on Value chain development and Women Agripreneurship for socio economic empowerment was highlighted by Dr Lipi Das, Pr. Scientist. She stressed upon change in mindset of farm women through capacity building in rural areas for development of entrepreneurship. Dr. S.K.Srivastava, Director ICAR-CIWA, in his address emphasized upon VALUE i.e various, augmentation, large, utilisation and entrepreneurship and developing strategic approach for enhancing the income of farm women through analysis of existing value chain and need based intervention in crop-livestock production, processing and marketing system of cereal grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat etc. for doubling farmers' income and making the nation self reliant.

Dr S.K Dwivedi, Director, DRL(DRDO), delivered his key note speech on "Value addition of horticultural crops especially fruits and urged the youth for women entrepreneurship through ITK based technologies. Dr R.N.Padaria, Pr. Scientist, ICAR-IARI, delivered lecture on opportunities and challenges in Agriculture extension and various extension models and social learning practices for development of women entrepreneurship. Then Dr A.K.Singh, Pr. Scientist, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal discussed on strategic approached for strengthening small holder enterprises through Dairy value chain development and various dairy value added products, methodologies of traditional dairy products along with scope for women entrepreneurship in dairy farming. Dr. A. K. Dixit, Pr. Scientist, ICAR-CIRG, Makhdoom delivered talk on goat value chain development for sustainable livelihood security and women entrepreneurship in which he emphasized upon small holder farmers, SHGs, FPOs for effective entrepreneurship in goat farming. Smt. Krishna Yadav, Proprietor of Krishna Pickles Pvt. Ltd shared her jouney as a successful entrepreneur under the technical back stopping by ICAR-IARI on various fruit based products like pickles, chutneys, murabbas, candies, jam, jelly, aleo-vera gel, Pusa fruit drinks of jamun, litchi, mango, strawberry etc. The programme was ended with vote of thanks by Dr A.K.Panda, Pr. Scientist. The virtual webinar was digitally monitored by Shri Neetish Kumar, Scientist, ICAR-CIWA.