Odisha Inaugurates Gender Responsive Cell at Krushi Bhavan to Empower Women Farmers

Bhubaneswar, Nov 29: Odisha has taken a landmark step toward inclusive agricultural governance with the inauguration of a Gender Responsive Cell (GRC) at Krushi Bhavan.

The initiative, jointly launched by Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), aims to embed gender equity across every layer of the state’s agricultural system.

Speaking at the launch, Singh Deo emphasised that the GRC reflects Odisha’s commitment to progressive reforms, ensuring women farmers—who form a significant part of the agricultural workforce—gain equitable access to schemes, technologies, markets, and opportunities.

Deputy CM Pravati Parida highlighted the timeliness of the initiative as the world prepares to observe the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026). She noted that the Cell will strengthen participation and benefits for women farmers, aligning Odisha with global priorities.

Principal Secretary Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee explained that the GRC will function as an analytical hub, supporting gender‑responsive budgeting, policy assessments, and data‑driven decision‑making.

Conceived as an institutional mechanism within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), the Cell will systematically apply a gender lens across planning, service delivery, and monitoring.

The launch event brought together senior officials, researchers, civil society representatives, and development partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, underscoring a collective commitment to building a more equitable, climate‑resilient, and future‑ready agricultural system in Odisha.