Bhubaneswar: The Mission Shakti department Friday signed a pact with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to strengthen women-led agri-enterprises and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for members of self-help groups (SHGs) across the state.
The MoU, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership to promote climate-resilient agriculture, value addition and market-oriented agri-businesses managed by women, was signed in the presence of Mission Shakti Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Manasi Nimbal, Director Monika Priyadarshini, and ICRISAT Deputy Director General Stanford Blade, among others. Nimbal said empowering women farmers with modern knowledge, scientific technologies and stronger market linkages is essential to addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change.
She expressed confidence that the collaboration with ICRISAT would enhance the capabilities of lakhs of women SHG members engaged in agriculture across Odisha and help them emerge as successful agri-entrepreneurs. The initiative, she said, would not only strengthen women’s economic self-reliance but also contribute to the objectives of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’, ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Odisha’ missions. Under the agreement, district-specific agriculture-based projects will be implemented across the state to promote sus tainable farming practices and rural entrepreneurship. As part of the initiative, aquatic weeds in water bodies in Puri and Khordha will be removed and converted into value-added products, generating sustainable livelihoods for women while contributing to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
In Rayagada, the project will focus on producing biochar from cotton stalks and pigeon pea residues to improve soil fertility and enhance carbon sequestration. The programme will also expand the cultivation of high-quality grafted vegetable seedlings across the three project districts. The partnership will also equip women SHG members with training in millet cultivation, pulse and oilseed production, and natural farming practices. It will promote the adoption of ICRISAT-developed climate-smart agricultural technologies, digital advisory services, and improved seed varieties to enhance productivity and resilience. To strengthen the agri-value chain, women SHGs will receive technical and business support in packaging, branding and market linkages, enabling them to establish sustainable and profitable agri-enterprises.
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