A field day on ‘Winter season vegetable production technologies for livelihood of tribal farmwomen’ was observed by ICAR-CIWA at Village Kamaninga in Dhenkanal district on 2nd January, 2016. The programme was organized under the collaborative project on ‘Livelihood and Nutritional Improvement of Tribal Farm Families through Horticulture’.

The programme was started with the briefing about the ‘Field Day’ by Dr. Naresh Babu, Principal Scientist and PI of the Project. The Chief Guest of the programme, Dr. S. K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA highlighted the research and extension activities of ICAR-CIWA for the empowerment of farmwomen. Dr. Laxmipriya Sahoo, Scientist and Co-PI of the project delivered a technical talk on the significance of quality seeds in vegetable crop production. The technical lectures were followed by demonstration on raising vegetable seedlings using pro-trays and the use of pheromone traps for effective pest control in vegetable crops. In the ‘Scientists-Farm Families Interface’, the technical queries of the farmers were answered by the Scientists and Technical Staff of ICAR-CIWA. On-field advisories were also issued to the participants on improved vegetable production technologies, seed management and pest control measures.

As part of the event, a quiz programme on vegetable production technologies was conducted and prizes in the form of critical inputs were distributed to the farmwomen and men. The participants including the children were also sensitized about the ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’ and the significance of keeping the surroundings neat and tidy. A ‘Community Lunch’ was also organized towards the end of the progarmme. About 80 tribal farm families participated in the programme. Shri. Jairam Biswal, Admn. Officer, ICAR-CIWA participated in the programme as guest of honour. The programme was coordinated by the project team, Dr. Naresh Babu, Dr. J. C. Jeeva, D. Laxmipriya Sahoo, Smt. Tapaswini Sahoo and Shri. Sanjay Kr. Behera.