Community farming empowers women in tribal areas

BHUBANESWAR: Community farming has shown a way of livelihood of women in the State in general and tribal areas in particular. It has created a platform to empower women in the tribal dominated districts. This model in agriculture sector has made the women folk more confident and self-reliant than before. 

It was an observation by the experts during a State-level conclave organised by the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) here on Friday. The experts outlined the necessary of agricultural development in the State by giving due importance to the women in the sector. 

According to 2011 census, the women constitute major proportion of agricultural workforce in Odisha that is 37 per cent out of total 62 per cent of State’s population active in agriculture sector. As per the figures mentioned in the Agriculture Census of India, out of the total female agricultural workforce in the State 74.7 per cent belong to the marginal category with a total of 41.2 per cent of land holdings. 

With a small land holding in hilly areas, women didn’t want to do farming by spending money and labour. When the CYSD persuaded the women to do community farming in a group combining their small land holdings and workforce, the women folk took initiative in the sector and succeeded in the field. 

Women farmers like Laxmi Khila of Dadhiapadar under Boipariguda block in Koraput district, Sabitri Bhue and Lalita Bhue of Hemgiri block in Sundargarh district, Manmodi Gadba of Dasmantpur block in Koraput district and others attending the conclave shared their experiences and success stories with other women farmers. 

The experts like Women's Cooperative Development Corporation Chairman Srimayee Mishra, CYSD chairman PK Mishra, former Information Commissioner Jagadananda, CRRI senior scientist Dr Meera Kar, Deputy Director of Agriculture Aparthy Sethi, Deputy Director of Horticulture Gayatri Padhi and activist Jagdish Pradhan lauded the women farmer’s achievement and advised them how to excel in their field.

In the conclave, two books, Ananya and Darpan were released by the experts.