Lok Sabha Question No. 4520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Doubling the Income of Women Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4520

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   JANUARY, 2019

## DOUBLING THE  INCOME OF WOMEN FARMERS

4520.     SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the share of women in the production of main crops in the country is 75 per cent;
- (b) if  so,  the  action  taken  by  the Government in order to double the income of the said women  agriculturist  during  the  last  four  years  and  the  current  year  along  with  the  outcome thereof, State-wise; and
- (c) the  manner  in  which  the  Government is doubling the wages of the women working in the  agriculture  sector  or  providing    assistance    for    doubling    the  income    of    the    women working  as  self employed farmers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c): As per the Census 2011 conducted by the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, the extent of women participation in agriculture as cultivators (main & marginal) is to the tune of 3.60 crore (30.33%) and as female agricultural labour (main & marginal) to the tune of 6.15 crore (42.67%).

The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  has  taken  various  prowomen initiatives which aim at bringing women into the mainstream agriculture so as to enable them to contribute to doubling family's income, both - in capacity of self-employed farmers as well as working on own farm as unpaid labourer . These include (i) earmarking of 30% of funds for women under various major beneficiary oriented schemes/programmes of the Department; (ii) focussed women  specific interventions  under  ATMA  component  of  Sub-Mission  on Agricultural  Extension  in  terms  of  supporting  Women's  Food  Security  groups  (WFSGs)  (@ 2WFSGs)/Block)  and  inclusion  of  one  Gender  Coordinator/State  in  the  team  of  committed extension functionaries; (iii) undertaking macro/micro level studies in critical thrust areas related to women in agriculture; (iv) development of Gender Sensitization Capsule Module on Gender Learning and its delivery through training programmes organised through National/Regional/State level training institutes; (v) bringing out farm-women friendly  literature and publications  such  as      Compendium  of  gender  friendly  tools/technologies,  Farm Women Friendly Handbook, compilation of best practices/success stories of the women farmers, etc.

Contd…2/-

Besides,  trainings  are  being  imparted  to  women  farmers  under  various  schemes  of MoA&FW  which  include  ATMA  scheme,  Cooperative  Education  Field  Projects  (NCDC)  of DAC&FW; Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of DARE, ICAR and Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG) under Sub-Mission on Livestock Development of DAHD. The EDEG supports activities related to poultry,  small  ruminants,  rabbit  rearing,  piggery  etc. which are mainly taken up by women.

Special skill training courses in agriculture and allied sectors are also being conducted for farmers including women farmers through KVKs, National Training Institutions of DAC&FW and State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute across the country. All these steps  are  aimed  at  building  capacities  and  capabilities  of  farm  women  to  adopt  improved agricultural practices to get better returns.

The  Department  of  Rural Development, Ministry  of  Rural  Development is  implementing 'Mahila  Kisan  Sashktikaran  Pariyojana'  (MKSP),  as  a  sub-component  of  National  Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) with an aim to create and sustain agriculture based livelihoods of rural  women, which may contribute to raising family income. No specific study to learn Statewise effect of such interventions has however been undertaken.

Minimum wages fixed for agricultural sector in central sphere are equally applicable to both men and women.

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