Mahila Kisan Diwas was celebrated at ICAR - Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar on 15 October, 2019. Dr. P. K. Agarwal, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of OUAT, Bhubaneswar graced the occasion as chief Guest. In his address he said that farm women play multi-dimensional roles in agriculture. Their contributions to agriculture and rural economy is more than men. Therefore, proper structural, functional and institutional measures are to be promoted to empower women, to build their abilities and to increase their access to input technology and other agricultural resources.

 

The programme was presided over by Dr. S. K. Srivastava, Director, ICAR-CIWA. In his address, he briefed about the various research and extension activities of CIWA the only Institute of ICAR for empowering the farm women in agriculture and allied sectors.

 

At the outset Dr. Lipi Das, Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer, Mahila Kisan Diwas gave the welcome address and highlighted the significance of celebrating Mahila Kisan Diwas by recognising the invaluable contribution of farm women in agriculture and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

 

About 200 farm women from different parts of Odisha and also from Valsad, Gujarat participated in the programme. They participated with enthusiasm in various competitions such as agricultural quiz and speech competition on "Role of Farm Women in doubling the Farm Income" organized as part of the celebration.

 

Scientists-Farmwomen interface was also organized in which various technical queries on agriculture and allied sectors for the livelihood enhancement of farm families were answered. Progressive farm women were also felicitated during he programme. Prizes were distributed to the winners of various competitions. At the end vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. J. Charles Jeeva, Pr. Scientist and Co-Nodal, Mahila Kisan Diwas.

 

Dr. Lipi Das, Pr. Scientist and Nodal, Mahila Kishan Diwas and Dr. J. Charles Jeeva, Pr. Scientist and Co-Nodal, Mahila Kisan Diwas coordinated the programme.