Lok Sabha Question No. 2344 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-03
Subject: Women Farmer Empowerment Programme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2344

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2019

## WOMEN FARMER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

## 2344.  SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT

- (a) the  details  of  targets  achieved  so  far  under  the  'Women  Farmer  Empowerment Programme'  under  National  Rural  Livelihood  Mission  along  with  the  Funds allocated and utilised under the said scheme;
- (b) the details of additional support and assistance to women farmers under any other schemes;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  adequate  steps  to  create  awareness regarding this programme and its benefits among the farming community; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) : Mahila  Kisan  Sashaktikaran  Pariyojana  (MKSP),  a  sub  component  of  Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is being implemented since  2011.  The  primary  objective  to  empower  women  in  agriculture  by  making  systematic investments  to  enhance  their  participation  and  productivity,  as  also  to  create  and  sustain  their agriculture-based livelihoods. Three broad focus programmatic areas of MKSP  are  (i) Sustainable  Agriculture  (ii)  Non-Timber  Forest  Produces  (NTFP)  and  (iii)  Value  Chain Development.

Achievement under MKSP is given below.

| No. of States / UTs covered        | 24               | 24                    |
|------------------------------------|------------------|-----------------------|
| Total number of project sanctioned | 84               | 84                    |
|                                    | Target (numbers) | Achievement (numbers) |
| District                           | 273              | 238                   |
| Blocks                             | 1,390            | 1,319                 |
| Villages / Hamlets                 | 34,446           | 30,900                |
| MahilaKisan                        | 33,81,893        | 36,06,003             |

Fund allocation and utilized under MKSP is given below:

| Total Budget                                                                 |   1252.57 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
| Total allocation of Central share (As per original approval)                 |    847.48 |
| Total releases of Central share till date based on State demand/ utilisation |    579.76 |

Amount in Crores Rupees

(b)  The  Department  of  Agriculture  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  providing  additional support and assistance to women farmers, over and above the male farmers under the Schemes namely  Agri-Clinic  &  Agri-Business  Centre  (ACABC),  Integrated  Schemes  of  Agricultural Marketing  (ISAM),  Sub-Mission  of  Agricultural  Mechanization  (SMAM)  and  National  Food Security Mission (NFSM), the details of which are as under :

-  'Agri-Clinic & Agri-Business Centre' initiative of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension  provides  for  credit  linked  back-ended  subsidy  on  the  bank  loan  availed  by  trained candidates under the Scheme. The subsidy is 44% in respect of women, SC/ST and all categories of candidates from North-Eastern and Hill States and 36% in respect of other categories.
-  Under the Scheme 'Integrated Schemes of Agricultural Marketing (ISAM)', support for women is available to the extent of 33.33% for women against 25% assistance available for male farmers for storage infrastructure projects and other infrastructure projects.
-  Under 'Sub-Mission of Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)', 10% additional assistance is  available  for  women  for  Procurement  of  Agriculture  Machinery/Equipment  including  Post Harvest equipment.
-  Under the Scheme 'National Food Security Mission (NFSM)', 10% additional assistance is available for women for Plant Protection equipment including eco- friendly light trap and seed treatment drum as well as supply of improved farm implements.
- (c) and (d): Yes, the Government has undertaken adequate steps to create awareness regarding this  programme  and  its  benefits  among  the  farming  community.  Mass  Media  Support  to Agriculture  Extension  being  implemented  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfare for the welfare of farmers by using electronic, print and social media.

The Ministry is  continuously  working  to  create  awareness  about  the  project  through  the  State Rural  Livelihoods  Missions.  The  benefits  of  taking  up  sustainable  practices  in  Agriculture, NTFP, and livestock are discussed in the SHG meetings. The learning from the practices adopted under  MKSP  is  now  being  scaled  up  by  the  Rural  Livelihoods  Missions  of  States/UTs  as  a universal  intervention  under  their  DAY  NRLM  through its Annual Action Plans (AAPs). The IEC  (Information,  Education  and  Communication)  strategies  and  campaigns  of  Deendayal

Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission cover all its sub components including MKSP and this Ministry is continuously supporting women farmer under DAY NRLM. Besides, compendium of Agro Ecological best practice document, films on MKSP and communication materials have been developed. As part of the public disclosure norms wall paintings are being done in the MKSP project areas.