Empowering Women in Daringbadi: A New Era for Local Agriculture

Mission Shakti's Director, Manika Priyadarshini, recently visited Daringbadi to enhance women-led agricultural initiatives. Focusing on key crops like strawberries, turmeric, and coffee, she emphasized the need for processing facilities to boost year-round income for local farmers. The visit included tours of coffee plantations and turmeric processing centers, highlighting the importance of empowering tribal women. Priyadarshini proposed strategies for value addition and branding of Kandhamal turmeric and local coffee, aiming to improve marketability and farmer incomes. This initiative marks a significant step towards sustainable agricultural development in the region.
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Empowering Women in Daringbadi: A New Era for Local Agriculture

Mission Shakti's Initiative in Daringbadi


In a notable effort to enhance women-led agricultural ventures and support local products, Manika Priyadarshini, the Director of Mission Shakti, visited the Daringbadi block in Kandhamal district. Her aim was to evaluate current initiatives and develop a strategy for adding value to essential crops such as strawberries, turmeric, and coffee through processing facilities.


Upon her arrival at the PWD Inspection Bungalow in Daringbadi on Saturday evening, Priyadarshini was welcomed by BDO Preetiranjan Rath. The following day, she toured local coffee farms, the Mission Shakti-operated Coffee Café, Hill View Park, and turmeric processing sites in Dandima and Sulumaha villages. These facilities, managed by women's groups under Mission Shakti, are crucial for empowering tribal women in the area.


Priyadarshini observed that many women in the block have successfully engaged in strawberry farming, which yields good profits in a short time. However, the absence of processing infrastructure limits their income to the harvest period. She proposed the establishment of facilities for producing products like squash and jam, either through government or private initiatives, to ensure a steady income from strawberries throughout the year. She instructed the BDO to investigate potential steps in this direction.


Regarding the renowned Kandhamal turmeric, the director stressed the importance of promoting value addition and branding. She indicated that turmeric would be processed, packaged, and marketed with GI tag labeling to improve its marketability and increase farmers' incomes.


Additionally, the director pointed out the necessity of local coffee processing. Currently, the organically cultivated Daringbadi coffee is collected by the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (TDCCOL), processed in Koraput, and sold under the Koraput brand. She announced that the state government plans to establish a processing unit in Daringbadi, which will enhance the identity of Daringbadi coffee and provide better financial returns for local farmers. There are also plans to expand coffee cultivation to additional regions.


During her visit, Priyadarshini enjoyed lunch at the Mission Shakti Café in Daringbadi and engaged with women members, discussing their projects and the challenges they face.


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