Scheme for Women Farmers.

Q. Why is this in news?

A. 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.

• The guidelines of the various beneficiary-oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), provide that States and other Implementing Agencies to incur atleast 30% expenditure on women farmers.

Q. What are some of the schemes having specific components for the welfare of women farmers?

A. 

1. National Food Security Mission,
2. National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm,
3. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture,
4. Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material,
5. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and
6. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

Q. What is Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)?
A. The Department of Rural Development, launched a specific scheme namely ‘Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)’.

• It is a subcomponent of DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission).
• This scheme is being implemented since 2011.
• Objectives: To empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, as also create sustainable livelihoods of rural women.
• Implementation: The program is implemented in project mode through State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) as Project Implementing Agencies.

Q. What is the Need for promotion of women farmer?

A. Agriculture support system in India strengthens the exclusion of women from their entitlements as agriculture workers and cultivators.

• Rural women form the most productive work force in the economy of majority of the developing nations including India. More than 80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture activities for their livelihoods.
• About 20 per cent of farm livelihoods are female headed due to widowhood, desertion, or male emigration.
• Most of the women-headed households are not able to access extension services, farmers support institutions and production assets like seed, water, credit, subsidy etc. As agricultural workers, women are paid lower wage than men.