Over 36 Lakh Women Farmers have Benefited from Govt Scheme

NEW DELHI: Over 36 lakh women farmers have benefited from the government’s flagship scheme to empower women engaged in agricultural activities with the Centre allocating Rs 847 crore for 84 projects to benefit female tillers across 24 states and Union Territories, the agriculture ministry told Parliament last week.

In a written response to a question whether the government was running any scheme for women farmers, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the rural development ministry was implementing Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) by making systematic investments to enhance women’s participation and productivity.

“Under MKSP, 36.06 lakh mahila kisans have been benefited through 84 projects in 24 states/UTs in the country, out of which 1.81 lakh women have been benefited in Maharashtra. A total central allocation of Rs 847.5 crore has been made towards implementation of the approved projects,” the minister said.

According to the MSKP website, women farmers from MP have been the biggest beneficiaries with 6.46 lakh availing of the central scheme. Government data showed that Maharashtra had the second highest beneficiaries (5.18 lakh) followed by Odisha (4.61 lakh).
MSKP is a sub-component of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, which aims to improve the status of women in agriculture. In most cases, farmers have benefited by forming self-help groups to avail of government help and go for systematic farming.

Besides providing help under the MSKP scheme, Tomar said the government was giving additional support and assistance to women farmers, over and above male farmers, under schemes such as Agri-Clinic & Agri-Business Centre, Integrated Schemes of Agricultural Marketing, Sub-Mission of Agricultural Mechanisation and National Food Security Mission.
During the current financial year, the government has allocated Rs 3,756 crore for these schemes. “Besides, women farmers can also avail of benefits under all the schemes implemented by the department as per eligibility,” the minister said.

Source: ToI