Odisha Launches Gender Responsive Cell to Strengthen Equity in Agricultural Governance

Bhubaneswar: Odisha took a significant step toward strengthening gender equity in agriculture today as Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Smt. Pravati Parida jointly inaugurated the Gender Responsive Cell (GRC) at Krushi Bhawan. The Cell has been established in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and is designed to integrate gender-responsive approaches into all levels of agricultural governance.

Speaking at the inauguration, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the launch of the GRC reflects Odisha’s longstanding commitment to inclusive agricultural development. He noted that with women forming a substantial part of the agricultural workforce, it is essential that governance systems ensure equitable access to schemes, technologies, markets, and opportunities. He added that the new Cell will help institutionalise evidence-based and gender-responsive interventions across the sector.

Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida highlighted the broader significance of the initiative, particularly as the world prepares to observe 2026 as the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer. She said that Odisha’s decision to operationalise the GRC ahead of this global observance underscores the State’s leadership and commitment toward empowering women farmers. The establishment of the Cell, she added, comes at a crucial time when international attention is shifting toward the challenges faced by women in agriculture and the need for more inclusive policy systems.

Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, stated that the GRC will help apply a systematic gender lens across planning, budgeting, service delivery, and monitoring processes. He emphasised that the Cell is envisioned as an innovative institutional mechanism embedded within DAFE to promote equitable agricultural governance.

The GRC will function as an analytical hub, supporting gender-responsive policy assessments, budgeting exercises, and data-driven decision-making. It will also work on creating replicable frameworks that can be adapted across other departments to strengthen overall gender equity in public systems.

IFPRI’s South Asia Regional Director, Dr. Shahidur Rashid, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Odisha as a long-term technical and knowledge partner in advancing gender-inclusive agricultural development.

The inauguration event brought together senior government officials, researchers, civil society representatives, and development partners. Members from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with officials from the Departments of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, and Women & Child Development, participated in the meeting, signalling strong collective support for building a more equitable, climate-resilient, and future-ready agricultural ecosystem in the State.