Feminization of Agriculture: Milestone step for welfare and promotion of gender concerns in agriculture

News Bharati    09-Jul-2019
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New Delhi, Jul. 9: In India, a major rural population is dependent on agriculture and related businesses. In agriculture, the major force which works for in fields is women. To make ‘her’ contribution more enrich, Government comes up with many new schemes of welfare.
 
 

 
 
In line with the provisions of the National Policy for Farmers (NPF) (2007), the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development is already implementing a program 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 Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is also promoting mainstreaming of Gender Concerns in agriculture by ensuring the flow of funds and benefits to the tune of 30% for women farmers under it is beneficiary oriented Schemes and Programmes. Besides, the Government is providing additional support and assistance to women farmers, over and above the male farmers under a few selected Schemes. 
 
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% during 2010-11 to 13.78% during 2015-16.
 
This information was given by the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
 
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 the North Eastern States) for such projects is provided by the Government of India.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.