Lok Sabha Question No. 1501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-26
Subject: Encouraging Women in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  1501

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  JULY, 2022

## ENCOURAGING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

1501.  SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

(a) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to encourage women in the agricultural sector to saw and harvest crops;

(b) the  details  of  the  way  by  which  the  special  benefits  of  agricultural  education  are extended/ being extended to women in the State of Gujarat;

- (c) the number of women who have quitted the agricultural sector due to Covid-19; and

(d) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to ensure that no man or woman have to quit their agriculture profession due to pandemic?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ िष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): The Government is implementing various schemes and programmes for the farmers  including  women  farmers  as  per  eligibility  and  conditions  existing  in  scheme guidelines.

The  guidelines  of  the  various  beneficiary  oriented  schemes  of  the  Department  of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provide that States and other implementing agencies should incur expenditure on women farmers. These schemes include Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm, National Mission on  Sustainable  Agriculture,  Sub-Mission  for  Seed  and  Planting  Material,  Sub-Mission  on Agricultural Mechanization and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

The  Central  Sector  Scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN)  is being implemented by DA&FW with the aim of providing financial assistance to landholding farmer families including women farmers across the country, subject to certain exclusion criteria.

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission  with  the  aim  to  empower  women  by  making  systematic  investments  to  enhance their participation and productivity, as also to create sustainable livelihoods of rural women. It  is  a  demand  driven  programme  implemented  in  project  mode  through  the  State  Rural Livelihoods Mission as Project Implementing Agencies.

The Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA), Bhubaneswar under Indian Council  of  Agricultural  Research,  New  Delhi  is  working  with  the  mandate  to  undertake research on gender issues in agriculture and allied fields, through its All India Coordinated Research Project Centers in India.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  established  731  Krishi Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the  country  including  Gujarat  mandated  with  Technology Assessment  and  Demonstration  for  its  Application  and  Capacity  Development.  KVKs organize  training  programs  for  the  benefit  of  farmers  and  farm  women,  rural  youth  and extension personnel and  organize women specific activities on various topics . In order to familiarize women  with the latest techniques in agriculture and allied sectors , trainings are also being imparted to women under schemes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

(c ) & d): The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had issued comprehensive guidelines on the measures to be taken for containment of Covid-19, which also ensured smooth  functioning  of  Agricultural  operations  /  sector  and  timely  harvesting  of  crops. Agriculture sector showed positive growth during the same period.

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