Bhubaneswar, 24 June (H.S.) : In a significant step towards strengthening gender-responsive agricultural governance, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), organized a two-day Capacity Partnership Workshop under the Gender Responsive Cell (GRC) in Bhubaneswar.

The workshop aimed to enhance institutional capacity for integrating gender perspectives into agricultural policies and programmes, while promoting evidence-based and inclusive decision-making across the sector.

Inaugurating the workshop, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, DA&FE, Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav emphasized the need for a transformative approach to policymaking. He noted that the challenge of achieving gender equity in agriculture extends beyond cultural barriers and requires a fundamental shift in governance frameworks. Stressing the importance of robust data systems, he highlighted the need for gender-responsive policies that adequately recognize and support the contributions of women in agriculture.

The workshop brought together senior officials from key departments, including Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, along with representatives from ICAR-CIWA and other stakeholder institutions.

Technical sessions focused on critical themes such as gender analysis of agricultural schemes, gender budgeting, digital and financial inclusion, and the use of gender-disaggregated data from ASUSE 2023–24 for informed policymaking.

Additional Secretary Shri Shubhranshu Mishra underscored the importance of data-driven and inclusive policy interventions to strengthen women's participation and leadership in the agricultural sector.

Experts from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), and IFPRI facilitated discussions on addressing gender gaps, strengthening gender budgeting frameworks, and promoting evidence-based agricultural governance.

The workshop marks an important milestone in operationalizing the Gender Responsive Cell as a platform for institutional learning, policy innovation, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The initiative reinforces Odisha’s commitment to building a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural ecosystem while positioning the state as a leader in gender-responsive agricultural transformation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda