Bhubaneswar, June 24: The Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), organised a two-day Capacity Partnership Workshop under the Gender Responsive Cell (GRC) to advance gender-responsive agricultural policymaking in the State.

Inaugurating the workshop, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav said, “The challenge is not merely cultural, it requires a paradigm shift in policymaking and administration, stressing the need for robust data systems and gender-responsive governance to ensure women's contributions are recognized in agricultural policies.”

The workshop brought together senior officials from Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti, Fisheries & ARD, ICAR-CIWA, and other stakeholders. Sessions covered gender analysis of agricultural schemes, gender budgeting, digital & financial inclusion, and hands-on training on gender-disaggregated data using ASUSE 2023–24.

Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Additional Secretary Shubhranshu Mishra emphasized data-driven and inclusive policy interventions to strengthen women’s role in agriculture. Experts from IRRI, NIPFP, NCAER, and IFPRI facilitated technical sessions on gender gaps, budgeting, and evidence-based policymaking.

The workshop marks a key step in operationalizing the GRC as a platform for institutional learning and policy innovation, positioning Odisha as a leader in equitable and inclusive agricultural transformation.