Hingoli Celebrates Traditional Seed and Organic Farming Festival on International Women’s Day

#IFAD (#International_Fund_for_Agricultural_Development) #Tebteba_Foundation and #UGAM_Gramin_Vikas_Sanstha Conserving and promoting indigenous crop varieties in tribal cluster of district Hingoli in India. Under the program celebrating  ##InternationalWomenDay Day, a traditional seed and organic farming festival was organized for tribal women farmers in Hingoli district. The event took place in #UGAM_Gramin_Vikas_Sanstha Umra, Kalamanuri taluka, on March 12, 2024. Approximately 150 tribal women farmers from various villages participated in the festival, showcasing traditional seeds and agricultural practices.

The Chief Guest at the event was Mr. Suresh Wankhade, Deputy Commissioner of the Integrated Tribal Development Department, Amaravati Division. In his keynote address, he emphasized the importance of government schemes aimed at elevating the lives of tribal communities and ensuring holistic development. He urged all participants to take advantage of these schemes, particularly those related to women and child welfare and education.

Dr. Sunil Barse, Project Officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Project in Kalamnuri, provided detailed information about various government schemes for tribal development. He highlighted the significance of preserving traditional seeds and promoting biodiversity for tribal culture.

The festival featured discussions and demonstrations on traditional farming methods, with emphasis on sustainable practices and conservation of biodiversity. Mr. Shivraj Ghorpade, Agricultural Officer of Hingoli district, stressed the importance of adopting organic farming methods and registering traditional seeds in the biodiversity register.

Experts from various fields provided guidance during the event. Dr. Neeta Gayakwad from Marathwada Agricultural University demonstrated modern agricultural tools and techniques, with a focus on women’s health and well-being. Mrs. Rohini Shinde from Tondapur shared insights on sensory farming techniques, while Mr. Sambhaji Bhawar conducted soil testing demonstrations for the attending farmers.

The event was coordinated by Mr. Jayaji Paikarav, founder of the hosting organization, with support from Mr. Dishant Paikrao and Ms. Archana Sabhadinde. The participation of a large number of tribal women and men from different villages made the festival a success.

The success of the festival was attributed to the dedicated efforts of several individuals, including @Prashant Paikrao, Krishna Pandit, Sushant Paikrao, Krishna Bhise, and others.

Overall, the festival served as a platform for promoting traditional farming practices, preserving biodiversity, and empowering tribal communities, especially women, in Hingoli district.

#InternationalWomensDay #TribalEmpowerment #TraditionalFarming #OrganicFarming #Biodiversity #SustainableAgriculture #RuralDevelopment #WomenFarmers #TribalCulture #CommunityEngagement #GenderEquality #WomenInAgriculture #EmpowermentThroughEducation #IndigenousKnowledge #RuralWomen