ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar Organises Training Programme on Integrating Gender Perspectives in Agricultural Research for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

4 -8 May 2026, Bhubaneswar

ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar organized a five-day training programme on Strengthening Agriculture Research with Gender Perspective for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems from 4 to 8 May 2026 for Nodal and Co-Nodal Officers – Gender Research in Agriculture (NO-GRA).

The participants were benefitted though lectures, practical sessions, group activities and interactions on gender-responsive agricultural research and extension approaches, the National Information System for Women in Agriculture (NISWA), integration of gender perspectives in climate-smart agriculture and gender-sensitive extension models etc. Different sessions were held on gender inclusive research approaches, emphasizing social norms, institutional practices for enhanced women’s participation and leadership in agriculture.

A major highlight of the programme was its strong emphasis on experiential learning, including practical exercises on assessing the gender responsiveness and women-friendliness of agricultural technologies and group work on developing gender-responsive research and extension proposals.

The learning process was significantly enriched by experience-sharing sessions by successful women entrepreneurs, featuring women FPO leaders who facilitated a vital cross-institutional knowledge exchange on scaling agribusinesses and community-led models.

The programme was concluded with post-evaluation sessions, where participants shared action plans for mainstreaming gender perspectives in their respective institutes. Overall, the training significantly enhanced the knowledge, skills, and confidence of Nodal and Co-Nodal Officers – Gender Research in Agriculture (NO-GRA) to design and implement gender-responsive and gender-transformative agricultural research and extension initiatives for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable Agri-Food systems.

The programme was attended by 30 participants from various ICAR institutes across the country to strengthen capacities for mainstreaming gender perspectives into agricultural research, education and extension systems.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar)