(a) whether the Government is planning to assist women farmers and agriculture laborers under any scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any special policy measure to ensure the maximum participation of women in agriculture startups; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b) : The Government is implementing various schemes and programmes for providing assistance to the farmers including women farmers and agriculture labourers 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 since 1st December, 2018 with the aim of providing financial assistance to landholding farmer families including women farmers across the country, subject to certain exclusion criteria, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs. 6000/- per year is transferred in three 4-monthly installments of Rs.2000/- directly into the bank accounts of the farmers.
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 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country organize demonstrations, training programs and skill development programs for the benefit of farmers and farm women.
The Government is providing social security to the workers of the unorganised sector including agricultural labourers as per the eligibility criteria through its welfare schemes relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc.
( c) & ( d) : The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with an objective to promote innovation and agrientrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. This Ministry has appointed Knowledge Partners (KPs) as Centres of Excellence and RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country for implementation this programme. So far, 213 women startups/ entrepreneurs have been supported under the “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” programme.
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