24/04/2026
ICRISAT hosted a hands-on training program on “Empowering Women and in Dryland Regions through Advanced Seed Production and Management Practices” from 16 to 18 April 2026. The training brought together 13 farmers from Self-Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations across 8 districts of Odisha.
The inaugural session featured Dr Stanford Blade, DDG-R&I alongside Dr Raman Babu, GRP Director Accelerated Crop Improvement, Dr Manzoor Hussain Dar, Global Head Seed Systems, Dr Sobhan Sajja, Senior Scientist and Mr Chakradhara Panda, ICRISAT who shared insightful discussions on sustainable agriculture and seed systems.
Participants gained practical, field-based experience in seed production, including seed treatment, maintaining seed purity, and key practices such as rogueing and isolation distance, along with demonstrations on w**d, pest, and disease management to tackle real-world seed production challenges.
This initiative marks a significant advancement, enhancing grassroots capacity and empowering farmers with the skills for quality seed production.