Farmers’ Field Day in Odisha, India
On 23 November 2025, ICARDA, in partnership with the Centre for Child and Women Development (CCWD), successfully organized a Farmers’ Field Day (FFD) at Themera Village in Kalahandi district, Odisha, under the Government of Odisha–ICARDA collaborative project “Intensive Agriculture Programme (Pulses Sector), including Revival and Sustainable Intensification of Forgotten Crops.”
The event aimed to enhance farmers’ knowledge on Arhar (pigeon pea) seed production, promote pulse-based diversification, and highlight expanding opportunities in pulse value chains. ICARDA's delegation included Dr. Augusto Becerra, Deputy Director General (Research); Dr. Shiv Kumar Agrawal, Regional Coordinator (SACRP); Dr. Kishor Kumar Behera, State Coordinator; and Ms. Priyanka Mathur Sen, HR Manager. Senior officials from the State Agriculture Department, including Shri Pramod Kumar Behera, Chief District Agriculture Officer (CDAO) of Kalahandi, also participated in the event.
More than 250 farmers, including a significant number of women farmers from Kesinga, Bhawanipatna, Narla, and Karlamunda blocks, attended the program. Progressive farmers shared their experiences in seed production and acknowledged ICARDA’s sustained technical guidance and support.
In his welcome address, Dr. Kishor appreciated the farmers, the Government of Odisha, and other stakeholders, including the State Seed Certification Agency and the State Seeds Corporation, for their continued cooperation in the seed production program and project implementation. Farmers were informed about the importance of integrating legumes into their cropping systems to improve soil health, enhance nutrition, and increase income.
Dr. Agrawal emphasized the critical importance of timely agricultural operations to maximize productivity. He encouraged the adoption of good agricultural practices (GAP), modern technologies, and efficient input management strategies, and urged farmers to actively participate in seed production and pulse diversification initiatives.
Expressing his appreciation for the scale of activities in the dryland region of India in general, and Odisha state in particular, Dr. Becerra highlighted the need to understand climate change impacts and adopt resilient cropping patterns. He reaffirmed ICARDA’s commitment to strengthening village seed systems, scaling pulse diversification, and enhancing the socio-economic resilience of rural communities.
Other dignitaries also shared their valuable insights during the event. The ICARDA team, along with the DDG, visited pigeon pea fields and commended the farmers’ efforts and partners’ commitment. The program concluded with the recognition of progressive farmers, who received certificates in honor of their contributions.