Kolkata, Oct 15 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has organised a stakeholder workshop to explore science-based interventions, indigenous knowledge and rural entrepreneurship for strengthening sustainable livelihoods among tribal communities in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
The workshop, recently held at the institute’s New Technology Guest House in Kharagpur under a project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, brought together district officials, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), NGO representatives, researchers, academicians, local entrepreneurs and community members, the institute said in a statement on Thursday.
The initiative, titled “Community-based Capacity Building and Scientific Interventions for Sustainable Livelihood in Mayurbhanj District, Odisha – Phase I”, aims to translate scientific research into practical interventions to improve income opportunities while promoting environmentally sustainable development.
The deliberations focused on livelihood diversification, biodiversity conservation, technology adoption, agricultural innovation and the development of rural enterprises.
A key focus was the potential of mushroom cultivation, with local farmers and community members sharing their experiences of developing entrepreneurial ventures with limited initial investment. Participants discussed paddy-straw and oyster mushroom cultivation, skill development and the production of value-added products.
Integrated farming models combining dairy farming, vegetable and fruit cultivation, fisheries, poultry and livestock rearing were also discussed as ways to diversify household incomes and improve resource utilisation.
The workshop highlighted the need to integrate livelihood generation with biodiversity conservation and ecotourism, particularly in areas surrounding the Simlipal Tiger Reserve.
Sumit Kar, Deputy Director of the Simlipal South Wildlife Division, participated in the discussions, which also explored technological interventions in wildlife monitoring and threat detection.
Participants examined opportunities in renewable energy, including household-level biogas systems, organic farming, food processing, packaging and product development. NGO representatives stressed the importance of community engagement and capacity building in promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The discussions underlined that technology-driven interventions need to be complemented by financial guidance, business planning, quality management and stronger market linkages to ensure the long-term viability of rural enterprises.
The project is being led by an interdisciplinary team comprising Dr Sayak Roychowdhury of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering as principal investigator, with Prof Bhagirath Behera, Prof Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Prof Pulak Mishra and Dr Pritha Datta serving as co-investigators or joint investigators.
(PTI News)
