| ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA), Bhubaneswar signed Memorandum of Agreements with 11 Women Farmer’s Interest Groups (FIGs)/ Self Help Groups on 18th December 2024 for establishing of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) in Puri, Khordha, Bhadrakh and Balasore districts of Odisha under ‘Scheduled caste sub-plan’ scheme of Govt. of India. Eleven Women Farmer’s Interest Group, comprising more than 110 SC women farmers involved agriculture and allied activities, participated in the programme. MoAs for Women Led CHCs were signed with SC women FIGs/SHGs in the esteemed presence of Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Hon’ble DDG (Agril. Edn), ICAR and Dr. Mridula Devi, Director and other staff of ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar. Most of the small and marginal women farmers do not have access to agricultural tools, machines and equipments due to lack of resources. Therefore, ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar is facilitating the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) with the aim to provide need based tools, machines and equipments. CHCs are basically a unit comprising a set of tools, farm machines, implements and equipments meant for custom hiring by farmers at the village level. These custom hiring centers will aid in drudgery reduction, processing and value addition activities, provide entrepreneurship, and additional income through renting of implements and also overall women empowerment of the FIGs and farmers/ farm families of the area. |
