Lok Sabha Question No. 184 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Survey of Women Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 184

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SURVEY OF WOMEN FARMERS

*184. DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any survey to estimate the State-wise details of women farmers with operational holdings present in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  incentive  schemes  for  women  in agricultural activities apart from Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken by the Government for identification of the said beneficiaries and the amount proposed to be distributed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ िष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)  TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 184 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2023.

(a) & (b):       As per the Agriculture Census 2015-16, the estimated number of female operational holders in the country was 2.04 crore. Number of female beneficiaries registered under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme as on 09.03.2023 is 3.056 crore.

(c) & (d):       For gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in agriculture, Government of India has established Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (CIWA) at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha under Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The institute undertakes research on Women in Agriculture and for identifying gender issues in agriculture and allied fields, gender-equitable agricultural policies/ programmes and gender-sensitive agricultural-sector responses.

The Government has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country with mandate of technology  assessment  and  demonstration  for  its  application  and  capacity  development.  The  KVKs impart training to women farmers on various aspects of agriculture and allied sectors. The KVKs also organize women farmer specific training programmes on various topics like household food security by kitchen gardening and nutrition gardening; Designing and development for high nutrient efficiency diet; Minimization of nutrient loss in processing; Processing and cooking; Gender mainstreaming through Self Help Groups; Storage loss minimization techniques; Rural Crafts; and Women and child care.

Government is implementing various schemes and programmes for the farmers including women farmers  as  per  eligibility  and  conditions  existing  in  scheme  guidelines.  Some  of  the  major  schemes include  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN),  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Maandhan Yojana(PMKMY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY),  Interest  Subvention  Scheme, National Food Security Mission(NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Soil Health Card(SHC), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY), National Agriculture Market(e-NAM), Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) etc.

The schemes which provide additional support and assistance to women farmers (over and above the male farmers) are given as under:

-  Higher  Rates  of  Assistance  for  Women  under  Agri-Clinic&  Agri-Business  Centre (ACABC)  Scheme: Agri-Clinic &  Agri-Business Centre initiative of Sub-Mission of Agriculture 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.

-  Support for Women under Integrated Scheme of Agriculture Marketing: The 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.
-  Support  for  Women  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM): 10%  additional assistance is available for women under Plant Protection including eco-friendly light trap and seed treatment drum as well as supply of improved farm implements.
-  Additional Financial Assistance under Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM):
- i. 10%  additional  assistance  is  available  for  women  under  SMAM  for  procurement  of Agriculture Machinery/Equipment including Post Harvest equipment.
- ii. To promote use of Drones, government is providing 50% of the cost upto maximum Rs. 5 Lakh Subsidy for SC/ST, Small and Marginal, women and farmers for northeastern states to buy drones and for others @ 40% of the cost upto maximum Rs. 4 Lakh.

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