Odisha Advances Gender-Sensitive Agriculture Through Capacity Building and Policy Innovation

Bhubaneswar: Recognising the growing role of women in agriculture and the need for more inclusive policy frameworks, the Odisha government has intensified efforts to integrate gender perspectives into agricultural planning through a two-day Capacity Partnership Workshop organised under the Gender Responsive Cell (GRC).

The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), bringing together policymakers, researchers and development stakeholders to strengthen gender-responsive agricultural governance in the state.

Inaugurating the programme, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of DA&FE, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, said the challenge of achieving gender equity in agriculture extends beyond social norms and requires structural changes in policy design and administration. He stressed the importance of building robust data systems and adopting governance mechanisms that adequately recognise and support women’s contribution across the agricultural value chain.

The deliberations focused on practical pathways for incorporating gender-responsive approaches into agricultural schemes and institutional decision-making. Participants engaged in discussions on gender budgeting, digital and financial inclusion, and improving access to data for more effective programme implementation.

Senior officials from departments including Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, along with representatives from ICAR-CIWA and other institutions, participated in the sessions.

A major component of the workshop included technical training on the use of gender-disaggregated datasets, particularly through the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2023–24, aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking.

Additional Secretary Shubhranshu Mishra highlighted the importance of inclusive and data-led interventions to create greater opportunities for women in agriculture and improve policy outcomes at the grassroots level.

Technical sessions were conducted by experts from IFPRI, IRRI, NIPFP and NCAER, covering issues such as gender gaps in agriculture, public expenditure planning and approaches to building more equitable agricultural systems.

Officials said the workshop represents an important step towards institutionalising the Gender Responsive Cell as a platform for policy innovation, knowledge exchange and long-term capacity building. The initiative is expected to support Odisha’s broader vision of creating a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.