ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Garhkhatanga, Ranchi
The International Women’s day was celebrated at Block B of new campus at ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Garhkhatanga, Ranchi on March 8, 2021. The theme for the International Women’s Day for 2021 was ‘Choose to Challenge’. Five women farmers and entrepreneurs were invited to share their experiences and talk on the ICAR theme “Women Leadership in Agriculture: Entrepreneurship, Equity and Empowerment”. A small exhibition of products of the women farmers and entrepreneurs were held at the venue.. ICAR programme on the occasion held at ICAR Headquarters, New Delhi was shown to all participants from 10.30 AM.

The International Women’s Day programme of ICAR-IIAB started by 12.15 PM after the ICAR programme of headquarters, with inauguration of exhibition by the Joint Director (Research), Dr. T.R. Sharma. An introduction to the programme was given by Dr. Sujatha, T.P, Organising Secretary and Scientist (Ag. biotechnology), ICAR-IIAB). Dr. TR Sharma (Joint Director Research, ICAR-IIAB) delivered welcome address. A documentary in Hindi was shown on 105 year old Smt. Pappammal or Rangamma, a women farmer leader from Thekkampatty village near Coimbatore of Tamilnadu, who was honored with the Padma Shri in 2021 for her tireless, ageless and inspirational work in agriculture, especially organic agriculture. The 5 women farmers/ entrepreneurs Mrs. Emlen Kandulna (papaya nursery management, organic vegetable cultivation and mushroom cultivation), Mrs. Asha Devi (Floriculture of Gerbera, Chrysanthemum etc), Mrs. Pushpa Devi (goat farming), Mrs. Neha Rose Toppo from Udhyogini (lac cultivation and products made of lac such as bangles, organic cultivation and mushroom cultivation), Mrs. Sharmila Chowdhury of Chotanagpur Crafts (making jute products such as bags, folders etc) shared their inspirational life experiences and success stories in entrepreneurship and farming, overcoming the struggles, hurdles and difficulties through untiring efforts and self-motivation.

The women guests were felicitated and a a token of appreciation gifted to nearly 10 women farmers on the occasion. Dr. Chirantan Chattopadhyay [Joint Director (Academic)] of ICAR-IIAB addressed the gathering. The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Dr. Sudhir Kumar, Co-organising Secretary, and Scientist (Genetics and Plant breeding), ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi.