The Working Group on Agricultural Research and Education constituted by the Planning Commission for the formulation of the Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-97) recommended for establishment of a National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture (NRCWA). Accordingly, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research established the NRCWA in the month of April 1996 at Bhubaneswar and has since been upgraded as the Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA) from the year 2008. DRWA is carrying out basic, strategic and applied research on various gender related issues in agriculture and allied sectors with thematic approach in creating a repository of gender disaggregated data and documentation; technology testing and refinement; drudgery assessment and reduction; gender sensitive extension approach; capacity building of scientists and functionaries; efficient resource management; and gender mainstreaming.

Carrying out basic, strategic and applied research to identify gender issues and test appropriateness of available farm-technologies/ programmes/policies with women perspective. To do training and consultancy for promoting gender mainstreaming in research and extension for empowerment of farmwomen and capacity building of scientists, planners and policy makers to respond to the needs of the farm women.

• To conduct basic, strategic and applied research on gender issues in agriculture and allied fields.
  
  
• To create and maintain database on gender specific information about men’s and women’s role in food production and agriculture development for effecting technologies, programmes and policies.
  
  
• To test the appropriateness of farm technologies and programmes and policies in terms of gender sensitivity in collaboration with relevant national and international organizations and suggest suitable modifications.
  
  
• To develop drudgery reducing options for decreasing the workload and increasing the efficiency of women.
  
  
• To develop gender sensitive modules and methodologies for transfer of technology.
  
  
• To develop gender sensitive training modules and materials and impart trainings, seminars and workshops for capacity building of scientists, researchers, planners and policy makers for gender mainstreaming and practical application of gender related technologies.
  
  
• To develop and publish gender sensitive materials, create network linkage through journals and information sharing.