During the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav a programme on Farm Mechanization for Women Empowerment was organized under the Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Programme by ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 30th September, 2021 in MGMG adopted village of Sankilo under Cuttack district of Odisha. The programme was attended by 100 participants including scientists and staff of ICAR-CIWA, farm women, farmers, personnel from line department and NGOs.

At the outset, Dr. Lipi Das, Nodal, MGMG programme and Pr. Scientist (Agril. Extension) welcomed all the participants and described about importance of farm mechanization for promoting women empowerment in Agriculture and briefed up about the use of different women friendly farm tools and equipments in rice, pulse and vegetable farming to improve the work efficiency, work output and decrease in drudgery and health hazards of farm women. She also stressed upon the up-gradation of Women Farmers Group “Ananya Mahila Bikas Samiti” to Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) for market linkage of their farm produce to fetch better price and profits.

Dr. Biswanath Sahoo, Principal Scientist (Animal Nutrition) highlighted about the silage preparation through processing and value addition of green fodder for optimum feeding of dairy animals. He also demonstrated the technique regarding improvement of poor quality paddy straw through urea ammoniation and conservation of fodder through silage preparation. Dr. Tanuja S., Scientist (FPT) discussed about aquaculture and post-harvest processing as a livelihood option for farm women.

The programme was followed by a demonstration and distribution of different women friendly farm tools and equipment viz., seed treatment drum, mandwa weeder, cono weeder, rice transplanter (2/3 row), improved Sickle, pedal operated thresher, hand winnower (fan model), paddy parboiling unit, rice-husk combustor, battery operated sprayer, axe, rose can, bill hook, liner/garden hoe, spade, crowbar, plastic milk cane, milk strainer and mineral mixture among 60 SC farm women under SCSP programme. The programme was thoroughly covered by the print media for wide publicity. At the end of the programme, vote of thanks was proposed.