A Stakeholders Meeting was organized by ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA), Bhubaneswar and CIWANI Women Farmers Producer Company Ltd. at Balanga, Puri on 18 Aug 2023 under the Project "Integration of gender dimensions for enhancement of livelihood through empowerment". On this occasion, Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar and the Chief Guest inaugurated the CIWANI Women Farmer Producer Company Ltd. at Balnaga Village in Nimapada Block of Puri District. In her address the group, Director emphasized on different facilities provided by ICAR-CIWA for the women farmers and expressed her best wishes for the improvement of the CIWANI Women FPC Ltd. The Director highlighted about future scope of cultivation of medicinal mushroom and mushroom spawn production in the production catchment areas, seed production of different crops, establishment of nutri-gardens in all households of the project villages etc. for the nutritional security and economic empowerment of farm women. She also stressed upon the FSSAI requirement of branding, packaging and labeling of the food products, developed by the FPC for better marketability and thus profitability. Dr. Mridula Devi, Director highlighted on the role played by ICAR-CIWA for women empowerment and nurturing the Women Led FPCs/SHGs/ FIGs in convergence with Mission Shakti, line departments, financial institutions, national and international institutions viz. IRRI, NGOs and other stakeholders. She thanked all the stake holders who played a significant role in establishing and nurturing this CIWANI Women FPC Ltd, Balanga from its inception till date for improving the livelihood securities of the farm families.

During the programme, Dr. Manjula Tripathi & Smt Subhashri Kar (Dept. of Hort, Puri), Dr. Sumita Acharya & Dr. S. N. Mishra (KVK, Puri), Dr Grija Swain (IRRI) Smt. Anusaya Mohanty (Block Chairman) Smt. Anjali Pradhan (Sarapanch), Sri J. Khan (SBI, Balanga), Sri S.Pradhan (Bank of Baroda) were present and each stakeholder explained how they can help women FPC through their plan and programmes.

The programme was coordinated by Dr. Sabita Mishra, Dr. Ananta Sarkar, Dr. Arpita Mohapatra, Dr. D. N. Sarangi and Mr. B. C. Behera from ICAR-CIWA and Mrs. Gouripriya Mohapatra and her team members of the CIWANI WFPC, Balanga.