ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow organized a capacity building program for the women farmers of Lucknow on 8th March, 2022 on the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD). The theme of the program organized was ‘Empowering women farmers with skill and knowledge’. On the occasion, Dr (Mrs.) Neelima Garg, Director, ICAR-CISH exhorted the women farmers to go for value addition in fruits and vegetables for enhanced and assured returns and nutritional security of their families. She apprised the participants that ICAR-CISH had developed several high-value processed products in fruits like mango, guava, aonla, bael and jamun, and all possible efforts are underway to commercialize such products in collaboration with women’s Self Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organizations and other stakeholders. She added that value-addition is a sure-shot means to developing hortipreneurs and start-ups, creating employment opportunities, converting waste into wealth and ensuring round the year availability of nutri-rich fruit and vegetable products. She assured the women farmers of all the technical support from ICAR-CISH for their present and future endeavors. Earlier, Dr. Anju Bajpai, Principal Scientist delivered a talk on the subject ‘Nutri-genomics for women health’. On this occasion, 10 women beneficiary farmers under SC-SP program were felicitated for their outstanding achievements in initiating and popularizing the commercial farming and kitchen gardening of horticultural crops. A total of 117 knapsack sprayers were distributed among the women and other farmers. The program was attended by about 120 farmers including 60 women farmers. Dr. Anshuman Singh, Dr. P. Barman and Dr. V. Dayal coordinated the program.

ICAR-CISH, RRS & KVK, Malda (W.B.) also celebrated the IWD. On the occasion, A Group meeting was organized at Kendpukur Village of Habibpur Block (Malda). Dr. Shailesh Kumar, SMS welcomed the dignitaries and farm women from different villages of Habibpur Block in Malda District. He highlighted the programme of International Women’s Day and emphasized the role of women empowerment in the society. He also stressed the importance of SHGs for building women’s confidence in food processing related activities like IFS model, zero budget natural farming, value addition in mango and banana fruits and other crops, etc or earning higher returns and sustainable livelihood. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Smt. Minati Mandal Hazra-Director of Agrani Neo FPC, Kendpukur, Malda elaborated her success story to achieve her goal. She also encouraged farm women for ensuring equal education to their son and daughter. About 35 farm women and 3 Official Staff participated in the programme.