Odisha Deputy Chief Minister KV Singhdeo Highlights Women Farmers’ Role In Economic Growth

Singhdeo advocates for District Mineral Foundation (DMF) support in promoting Backyard Poultry Initiatives

By Argus News

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: At the second edition of the 'Hatching Hope Groundbreaking Summit,'Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister (DCM), Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, on Wednesday praised the essential role of women farmers in strengthening the state’s economy. Held at a city hotel, the summit celebrated the significant contributions of women in small-scale agriculture and related sectors.

In his address at the event, organized by Passing Gifts—a subsidiary of Heifer International—Singhdeo commended the increasing involvement of women in agriculture. Viewing this trend as pivotal for Odisha’s future development, he assured the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at empowering women farmers, especially through collaborative development programs.

“The state government is fully dedicated to supporting organizations like Passing Gifts, which work toward the socio-economic advancement of women farmers,” Singhdeo stated. He urged Passing Gifts to expand its innovative Backyard Poultry Model across all 30 districts in Odisha, envisioning the initiative as a pathway to economically empower rural women through sustainable poultry farming practices.

He further suggested utilizing District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds to back backyard poultry projects that prioritize indigenous poultry breeds and scientific methods. “Collaborating with each district can drive substantial improvements in women’s economic self-sufficiency through poultry farming,” he emphasized.

The event honored 50 women farmers from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar who have achieved economic independence by implementing the Backyard Poultry Model. These women shared their stories, underscoring how the model has improved their livelihoods, economic stability, and contributed positively to their communities.

Akshaya Biswal, Programme Director at Passing Gifts, introduced the “New Backyard Poultry Model,” developed to increase rural incomes and resilience through community-driven poultry farming. The model tackles challenges faced by smallholder farmers by offering solutions such as predator-proof housing, sustainable feed options like Azolla cultivation, and access to essential financial resources. Focused on indigenous poultry breeds, the model includes comprehensive vaccination and biosecurity measures, creating a robust and sustainable system.

This model complements government initiatives, such as the 'Lakhpati Didis' program, providing a unified approach to increase farmer incomes and strengthen food security. Following its success in Odisha, the model is set to expand to Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, supported by Transform Rural India.

A panel discussion at the summit saw corporate leaders and government officials exploring ways to amplify the impact of backyard poultry farming. Representatives from Tata Steel, JSW, Weather Risk Management Services Pvt Ltd (WRMS), and India’s SC/ST departments discussed how collaborative efforts could foster sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

Dipanwita Chakraborty, Regional Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development at Cargill, endorsed the model’s emphasis on sustainable practices, stating it “enhances food security and benefits the health of our communities.”

Rina Soni, Executive Director of Passing Gifts, emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve meaningful change in rural communities. Experts like Suryamani Rout and Amit Batsyanan also shared insights on advancing sustainability in rural farming.