14-Dec-2021: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
The Government has undertaken steps to create awareness regarding this programme and its benefits among the farming community to increase the participation of women in agriculture.
In this regard, Ministry is continuously working to create awareness about the programme through, Community Resource Persons, IEC (Information, Education and Communication) strategies and campaigns of National Mission as well as the State Rural Livelihoods Missions. The benefits of taking up sustainable practices in Agriculture, Non- Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), and livestock are discussed in meetings of the Self Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organization and Cluster Level Federation meetings. The learning's from the practices adopted under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) are now being scaled up by the Rural Livelihoods Missions of States/Union Territories (UTs) under their Annual Action Plans (AAPs).
Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY- NRLM) till now, about 38 lakh women farmers have been trained under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP). The learning of the interventions under MKSP has been expanded to various parts of the country under the Annual Action Plans of States/UTs. Accordingly, a total of around 1.44 crore Mahila Kisan (women farmers) have been covered under DAY-NRLM till date.
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) is already facilitating trainings to the women farmers in the sustainable agricultural practices.
30-Jul-2021: Assistance to Women Farmers under Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
Under the schemes implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; the women farmers can avail benefits as per eligibility. The guidelines of the various beneficiary oriented schemes of the DA&FW also provide that States and other Implementing Agencies to incur at least 30% expenditure on women farmers.
The Ministry of Rural Development started a scheme to provide facilities to women farmers namely, Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY –NRLM), which is under implementation since 2011 through State Rural Livelihoods Mission as Project Implementation Agencies. The primary objective of MKSP is to empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and create sustainable livelihood of rural women.
The Government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers, including women farmers which are being supported by higher budgetary allocations. There have been several reforms to unleash the potential which include Market Reforms like Model APLMC (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017; Establishment of Gramin Agriculture Markets (GrAMs); Agri-Export Policy, 2018; The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Amendments to Essential Commodities Act, 1955; Promotion of 10,000 FPOs with necessary financial support under AtmaNirbhar Package (Agriculture) and supplementary income transfers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN); Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY); Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi Crops ensuring a minimum of 50 percent of profit margin on the cost of production to provide remunerative price to farmers; Har Medh Par Ped; Bee-Keeping; Rashtriya Gokul Mission; Blue Revolution; Interest Subvention Scheme; Kisan Credit Card (KCC) that now offers production loan to even dairy & fishery farmers besides agricultural crops etc.
17-Mar-2021: Scheme for Women Farmers
The guidelines of the various beneficiary oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provide that States and other Implementing Agencies to incur at least 30% expenditure on women farmers. These schemes include Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
The Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development launched a specific scheme namely ‘Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)’, as a subcomponent of DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission). This scheme is being implemented since 2011 with the objective to empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, as also create sustainable livelihoods of rural women. The program is implemented in project mode through State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) as Project Implementing Agencies.
DAY-NRLM and its sub-component MKSP is a demand driven programme. Accordingly, based on the demand from State Rural Livelihoods Mission for implementation of MKSP through project mode.
In order to familiarize women with the latest techniques in agriculture and allied sectors, trainings are being imparted to women farmers under schemes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development.
9-Jul-2019: Feminization of Agriculture
As per Agriculture Census conducted at an interval of every five years by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, the percentage of female operational holdings in the country have increased from 12.78 percent during 2010-11 to 13.78 percent during 2015-16.
In line with the provisions of National Policy for Farmers (NPF) (2007), the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development is already implementing a programme exclusively for women farmers namely, Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), which is a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM). The primary objective of MKSP is to empower women by enhancing their participation in agriculture and to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for them. Funding support to the tune of up to 60% (90% for North Eastern States) for such projects is provided by the Government of India.
The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is also promoting mainstreaming of Gender Concerns in agriculture by ensuring flow of funds and benefits to the tune of 30% for women farmers under its beneficiary oriented Schemes and Programmes. Besides, Government is providing additional support and assistance to women farmers, over and above the male farmers under a few selected Schemes.