| Poultry production is a dynamic and growing sector with immense potential for income generation, nutritional security, and employment, especially for women in rural areas. With minimal land requirements, quick returns, and easy scalability, poultry farming offers an ideal entry point for women to participate actively in agriculture and allied sectors. ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Veterinary Officers' Training Institute (VOTI) and the Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (FARD) Department, Government of Odisha, organized three training programmes of four days duration each on “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship in Poultry Production” from 6th May 2025 to 13th June 2025. This programme was designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of women entrepreneurs in key areas of poultry production, with a focus on poultry housing and management, disease prevention, feeding practices, entrepreneurship development, and effective marketing strategies. The women entrepreneurs were also informed about the ongoing poultry development schemes of the Animal Resources Development Department, Government of Odisha, to help them leverage available benefits. As part of the training, exposure visits were also made to the institute’s poultry demonstration unit, the Environmentally Controlled Poultry Farm, and the Central Poultry Development Organization in Bhubaneswar. These visits aimed to showcase technological advancements and provide hands-on experience and practical insights into various aspects of poultry farming. Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA, urged the participants to dream big and take confident steps towards becoming successful poultry entrepreneurs. She further stated that the institute is committed to supporting women in agriculture through capacity building, technology transfer, and policy advocacy. This training programme is a part of that commitment, and objective is to equip the women farmers not only with technical know-how but also with the confidence and entrepreneurial mindset required to manage and scale poultry ventures successfully. Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, HOD and Course Coordinator appreciated the participants for their enthusiastic involvement and hope this initiative sparks successful poultry ventures that uplift livelihoods and inspire rural women toward economic self-reliance. A total of 90 women entrepreneurs from various Self Help Groups (SHG) from 8 districts of Odisha participated in the training programme. |
