Odisha signs MoU with ICRISAT to expand women-led agri livelihoods

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government partnered with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to scale up women-led agricultural enterprises by introducing climate-smart technologies, sustainable farming practices and value-addition initiatives for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Mission Shakti Department and ICRISAT at Mission Shakti Bhawan in the presence of Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Manasi Nimbhal.

Describing the partnership as a step towards strengthening women-centric rural enterprises, Nimbhal said the collaboration would enable SHG members to adopt scientific farming methods, improve productivity and access better market opportunities. She added that the initiative aligns with the state’s efforts to create sustainable livelihoods under the Lakhpati Didi programme while contributing to the vision of Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat.

As part of the collaboration, women SHGs in Puri and Khordha districts will be involved in converting aquatic weeds into value-added products, while SHGs in Rayagada will be supported in producing biochar from locally available cotton and harada (myrobalan) pods to improve soil health and carbon sequestration.

The programme also includes training in millet cultivation, pulse and oilseed production, natural farming, and the use of climate-smart technologies, improved seed varieties and digital agricultural advisory services developed by ICRISAT. It will further promote the production of quality grafted vegetable seedlings in selected districts.

Besides technical interventions, the partnership will help women entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses through support in product packaging, branding and market linkages to improve the profitability of SHG-led enterprises.

Mission Shakti Director Monika Priyadarshini, ICRISAT Deputy Director General Dr Stanford Blade, and senior officials from the Mission Shakti Department, Odisha Livelihoods Mission and ICRISAT attended the signing ceremony.