ICAR-RCER Patna Organizes Workshop on “Gender Dynamics of Seed Systems in Bihar”
Bureau,Odishabarta
Patna:Traditionally, women have held key roles in seed production, storage, and exchange within informal and local seed systems. They are increasingly taking on more prominent and leading roles in community seed systems and small seed enterprises.However, they still face financial and other barriers that need to be addressed.
The gender challenge then is to first clearly understand how these dynamics affect women, youth, men and other marginalized groups, and then to ensure that these shifting dynamics and end-results do not however widen the gaps, especially by gender.
Thus, a workshop on Gender Dynamics of Seed Systems in Bihar was convened on 7th November 2023 at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna.The workshop was jointly organized by ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP), New Delhi and ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR RCER), Patna.
Its objective was to identify knowledge gaps and to exchange ideas on promising and implementable – interventions and approaches that expand opportunities for women in the seed sector.
At the outset, Dr. Anup Das, Director, ICAR RCER welcomed Chief guest Dr. BS Mahapatra, former VC, BCKV; Guest of honour Dr. RK Sohane, Director (Extension Education), BAU Sabour; Dr. Raka Saxena, HoD, NIAP, New Delhi and other dignitaries present in the workshop. Dr. AK Choudhary, organizing secretary detailed about the seed programme of ICAR-RCER and importance of seed hub. Dr. Raka Saxena, programme coordinator informed about the objective of the workshop where the requisite for research on gender and seed-systems needs to be empowered to reach to the policy-makers.
Director ICAR-RCER Dr. Anup Das stressed on the importance of seed, citing its significance in bio fortification, multiple stresses tolerant and ITK’s related to seed conservation. Dr. Das informed that National Agricultural Research System has developed 5700 varieties of 70 crops till date. Further, Dr. RK Sohane, briefed on the status of seed replacement rate of major crops in Bihar with the current research focus of BAU Sabour in gender mainstreaming in the seed production system. Dr. BS Mahapatra remarked on the small landholding of farmers of Bihar which has enhanced the role of women in different stages of seed production which is the need of the hour.
Moreover, he stressed on the skill training of women farmers in this area. The workshop was attended by researchers, development practitioners, FPO, farmers, KVK personnel and other stakeholders operating in the nexus of gender and seed systems
