Lok Sabha Question No. 457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Women Friendly Agricultural Equipments
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.457

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19 TH  JULY, 2016

## WOMEN FRIENDLY AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENTS

457.   SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE   ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  migration  of  agricultural  workers  and  poor  people  from  rural  areas  to cities  in  search  of  jobs  has  adversely  impacted  the  agriculture/farming  sector  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering a plan to develop women-friendly farm equipment to sustain the agriculture sector;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the action being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) & (b): As  per  Economic  Survey  2013-14,  the  share  of  agriculture  and  allied sector in total employment in the country declined from 59.9% in 1999-2000 to 58.5% in 2004-05  and  further  to  48.9%  in  2011-12.  This  reduction  is  on  account  of  growth  of secondary and tertiary sector and is considered as a natural part of the development process. Main reasons for migration include poverty, high population pressure on land, lack of basic infrastructural facilities like health care and  education, better job opportunities, relatively higher wages etc. However, the adverse impact of migration on the agriculture/farming sector is compensated  by  increased  level of agricultural mechanization which is evident from the fact that the farm power availability in India has increased from 0.47 kW/ha in the year 2000 to 1.84 kW/ha in the year 2013-14.

(c) to (e): In order to enable women to perform various farm operations with lesser drudgery,  various  implements  and  hand  tools  have  been  developed  by  different agricultural institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) viz. Central Institute  for  Women  in  Agriculture,  Bhubaneswar;  Central  Institute  of  Agricultural Engineering  (CIEAE),  Bhopal  and  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  (AICRP) Centres  in  State  Agriculture  Universities.  The  National  Gender  Resource  Centre  in Agriculture  under  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers Welfare  has brought  out  a  compendium  of  the  Gender  Friendly  Tools/Equipments  for  Women  in Agriculture.

The use of gender friendly equipments is promoted through training, demonstration and financial assistance under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. Women beneficiaries are provided 10% additional financial assistance for purchase of various agricultural machines and equipments. State Governments have also been directed to ensure flow of benefits to women farmers by way of earmarking at least 30% of allocation of this Sub-Mission.

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