National Seminar on Women in Agriculture

A National Seminar on Women in Agriculture was held at Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar on 4-5 Dec 2009. The programme coincided with Women in Agriculture Day which is observed on 4 Dec every year. The seminar jointly organized by Research Association for Gender in Agriculture (RAGA), International Extension Forum(IEF) and DRWA discussed various topics under five broad theme areas, i..e. Policies and thrust areas for women in Agriculture, Micro finance and Women Self Help Groups, Technology generation and transfer for women empowerment, Farm mechanization and impact on women empowerment and opportunities for women in agri-business and farm entrepreneurship. About 100 scientists, researchers, development professionals, students and farm women participated in the seminar. Amongst those who attended the programme were Dr. K.D Kokate, Deputy Director General (Agril.Extension), ICAR, Dr. D.P.Ray, Vice-chancellor, OUAT, Dr. V.V.Sadamate, Advisor, Planning Commission, Government of India, Dr A.G.Sawant, former member ASRB and President, IEF, Dr.Khageswar Pradhan, former Vice-chancellor, OUAT, present and former deans of OUAT and scientists of ICAR institutes.

Dr. K.D. Kokate, Deputy Director General (Agril.Extension), ICAR, in his address stressed the need for developing new technology capsules and methodologies for increasing income of rural women. He also underlined the need for systematic and thorough analysis of production systems in a region   for identifying viable options and solutions for women.

Dr. V.V.Sadamate, Advisor, Planning Commission, enlightened the participants about initiatives taken in various programmes under five year plans to strengthen gender role in agriculture and emphasized on the need for extension reforms for empowerment of women SHGs and developing the groups into federations and companies through capacity building. He urged the scientists to study various models and come out with a suitable model for empowerment of women self-help groups.

Dr.D.P.Ray, Vice-chancellor, OUAT highlighted the important role play by women in agriculture and allied sectors. He expressed his concern about drudgery of farm women and the possible impact of climate change on agriculture and women. He emphasized the need for systematic research to develop appropriate women friendly tools and equipments and find solutions to protect women and the agriculture sector against ill effects of climate change. At the same time he urged the farmwomen to take advantage of already available technologies and become economically empowered.

Dr Khageswar Pradhan, former Vice-chancellor OUAT stressed the need for developing a new approach by DRWA to reach out to the farm women of different states. Dr A.G. Sawant, President, IEF, in his address appreciated the role of women in sustaining agriculture in India and the role of DRWA in capacity building of stakeholders for addressing gender issues    Dr. Krishna Srinath, Director, DRWA and President, RAGA welcomed the dignitaries and the participants . In her address, she appreciated the participation of women in DRWA’s research endeavour and apprised the dignitaries and the participants about steps taken by DRWA to develop gender sensitive approaches and methods for gender mainstreaming in Agriculture.

Five awards, three for scientists and two for students, were given away for best oral presentation and two awards were given away for best poster presentation in the seminar.