Capacity Building Programme for Women Entrepreneurship through Custom Hiring Centre

The ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized a three-day Capacity Building Programme (CBP) on Women Entrepreneurship through Custom Hiring Centre during 16-18 July 2025 at Rahania village of Bhandaripokhari Block of Bhadrak District under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan Programme. The programme was aimed at motivating, mobilizing and skill development of women farmers from Radhakrusna SHG, CIWA-Keshab FIG functioning under Kalathakura FPO to become successful entrepreneurs through Custom Hiring Centre. This training was a foundation program to make the women aware of the concept of CHCs and how to manage it to reap potential benefits through the use of the tools and machineries in the Centre provided by ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar for income generation. More than 50 women farmers were present on the inaugural of the training from target village and adjacent villages.
After the inaugural session, a need assessment of the participants was done to understand the current socio-economic status, perception, willingness and knowledge level of the women farmers. Information on the demographic profile, major and minor crops produced, production, processing and marketing of the produce was also done during the second session. The training covered a range of topics viz., Role of Financial Organizations in implementation and execution of Women-led CHCs; innovative entrepreneurial approaches and group dynamics for promoting gender equity through CHCs; women entrepreneurship through farm mechanization by using various farm tools and implements; benefits and operation of CHCs; role of SHGs and FPOs in effective implementation of CHCs. The CHCs will provide a strong platform and enrich the knowledge and skill of the women farmers to take up various production and processing activities. The women involved in various agro-based activities under the CHCs will be able to attain economic stability, acquired skill set for operating the machineries leading them to be Self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) and Self-sufficient. The programme was co-ordinated by Dr. Lipi Das, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIWA and technical assistance was provided by Shri Atul Chetan Hemrom, Technical Officer, ICAR-CIWA.