Collaborative solutions to strengthening Odisha women-led seed enterprises

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 1 December 2024 – Decentralized, farmer-led seed systems are vital for improving smallholder farmers’ access to quality seeds. Recognizing this, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), under the CGIAR’s SeedEqual Initiative and ClimatePRO project, is promoting women-led Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to spearhead quality seed production.

Despite their critical role in rice systems, women face significant barriers, including limited access to resources, technology, land, and capital. By fostering women’s entrepreneurship in seed production, these challenges can be addressed, enabling women to transition from laborers to decision-makers and business owners.

Aligned with Work Package 6 (WP6) of the CGIAR’s SeedEqual Initiative, IRRI is testing various capacity-building approaches and business models to develop decentralized seed systems. Similarly, IRRI’s ClimatePRO project in Odisha focuses on improving farmers’ access to high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties, enhancing productivity and profitability.

On 1 December 2024, IRRI hosted a Reflection and Learning Workshop on “Strengthening Women-Led Seed Entrepreneurship.” The workshop aimed to share findings from a study involving six FPCs across Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, assessing pathways for successful women-led seed entrepreneurship; identify challenges faced by FPCs and develop actionable solutions; and facilitate the exchange of best practices to strengthen women-led seed enterprises. Participants included women seed producers, FPC Board members, NGO partners, and external experts.

Dr. Ranjitha Puskur, Principal Scientist for Gender and Livelihoods at IRRI and Lead of WP6 of the CGIAR SeedEqual Initiative, presented key findings. She noted, “This study highlights both the successes and challenges of women-led FPCs. Our goal is to learn from shared experiences and identify practical solutions to enhance their operations.”

Workshop sessions delved into challenges such as…