A Workshop-cum-Training Programme on Mechanization for Farm Women through WFPOs was organized under the Schedule Caste Sub Plan Programme (SCSP) by ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 16th July, 2022 in MGMG adopted village of Sankilo under Nischintakoili block, Cuttack district of Odisha. The programme was organised as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahostav to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. About 50 participants including scientists and staffs of ICAR-CIWA, farm women, farmers, Personnel from line department and NGOs participated in the programme.

Dr. Lipi Das, Nodal officer, MGMG programme welcomed the participants and described about importance of WFPOs for promoting mechanization for farm women and explained the use of different women friendly farm tools and equipments in rice, pulse and vegetable farming to improve the work efficiency, work output, drudgery reduction and health hazards of farm women. She also stressed upon objectives of WFPO ‘Ananya Farmer Producer Company Limited’ and encouraged the farm women to prepare different value added products from rice, vegetables, fruits, mushroom, milk and linking these products to market through WFPO ‘Ananya Farmer Producer Company Limited’ to fetch better price and profits.

Dr. Biswanath Sahoo, Principal Scientist explained the importance of value addition of milk and milk products for empowering farm women through mechanizing small holder dairy farming and their market linkage through WFPO to get maximum financial benefits. He also highlighted about green fodder cultivation for optimum feeding of dairy animals. The farm women of WFPO ‘Ananya Farmer Producer Company Limited also shared their experience in farming and described their profits obtained through intervention made of ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar.

The programme was followed by a demonstration and distribution of different women friendly farm tools and equipment viz., khurpi, shovel, garden hoe, finger hoe, fabric vermin beds, spade, steel milk cane, improved sickle, hand hoe, ring cutter, cono weeder and micro-nutrients like borax, zinc sulfate among 30 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.