Jharsuguda: A Rural Resource Centre was inaugurated on Friday at Indrapur village in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district. Constructed by LTI Mindtree at a cost of Rs. 29.4 lakh and with the support of Anchalik Jana Kalyan Anusthan (AJKA), this centre aims to empower local farmers and women.
The centre features a solar-powered cold storage facility, allowing farmers to store their produce at minimal cost. This is particularly beneficial for the area’s ginger farmers, who frequently face distress sales. To address this, a ginger processing unit will be established at the centre in the coming months. This unit will dry ginger and produce various ginger products for market sale, creating employment opportunities for both women and farmers.
Pratyush Panda, Principal Director and Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance at LTI Mindtree, highlighted the centre’s role in agricultural and women’s empowerment. “This initiative will provide employment opportunities and support sustainable agricultural practices in the region,” he said.
A meeting was also held at Bhikampali with farmers from the Lakhanpur block to discuss their production methods, marketing strategies, and ways to maximize their benefits. The meeting aimed to address the various challenges faced by the farmers and explore solutions to enhance their productivity and profitability.
The event was attended by Pratyush Panda, CSR Head of LTI Mindtree Jitendra Ghanghes, AJKA’s Gautam Behera, along with numerous farmers and women from the area.
