Parliament Question: Support for Women Farmers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.299 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21st July, 2026 Support for Women Farmers 299. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state: a. the details of the estimated percentage of women engaged in agricultural activities across the country; b. whether specific schemes exist to support women farmers to access credit, inputs, training and market linkages; c. if so, the details thereof; d. whether training and capacity-building programmes have been implemented to enhance the technical and entrepreneurial skills of women engaged in agriculture; and e. if so, details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), females constituted 59.8 percent of the total workforce engaged in the agricultural activities during 2025 (January-December) across the country. (b) to (e) The Government is implementing a number of schemes to support farmers to access credit, inputs, training and marketing linkages. The benefits under the scheme can be availed by women farmers. Under Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) concessional interest rates on short-term agricultural loans are provided to farmers through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Farmers (including women farmers) can avail Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7% for their working capital requirement. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum. Number of female account holders who have benefited from Agricultural credit subsidy under the Kisan Credit Card linked Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) for meeting working capital requirements are around 22% of 5.4 crores beneficiaries in financial year 2024-25.Under Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM), subsidy is provided for storage infrastructure, and marketing infrastructure other than storage, to the eligible beneficiaries including individuals, Group of farmers/growers, Self Help Group (SHG), Cooperative Marketing Federation etc. In order to promote women farmers and entrepreneurs including women Self Help Groups (SHGs), assistance in the form of subsidy is provided to all the women beneficiaries at a higher rate i.e. @33.33% instead of 25%. Under the formation and promotion of 10,000 Farmers Producer Organization (FPOs) scheme, special provisions have been made to empower women by providing special focus to include women farmers/women Self Help Groups (SHGs) as members to make FPOs more effective and inclusive. Out of these, 914 FPOs are 100 percent women share holders FPOs. Under Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, in order to make farm machinery more accessible and affordable to farmers, financial assistance @ 40-50% of the cost of machinery depending on the category of farmers is provided for purchase of agricultural machines. For women farmers the financial assistance is @ 50% of the cost of machinery. The Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) imparts training to women farmers/ Technicians/ Engineers/ Unemployed youths/ Machinery manufacturers, etc. on latest technology of farm mechanization. Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme supports State Government's efforts and introduces latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied sectors to farmers including women farmers through different extension activities viz; farmers training, demonstrations, exposure visits, kisan mela, mobilization of famers groups and organizing Farm Schools. As per ATMA Guidelines, minimum 30% of resources meant for programs and activities are required to be allocated to women farmers and women extension functionaries. The PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year to all eligible farmers through direct benefit transfer without gender discrimination, and has significantly benefited women farmers as ensuring transparent and direct financial support to strengthen their income and participation in agriculture. A total of 2,18,66,774 women beneficiaries received benefits under the 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN Scheme. The Government is implementing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme to promote adoption of new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development among the extension functionaries of state governments and farmers including women farmers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA), Bhubaneswar provides latest technologies to increase status of livelihood of women farmers. It organises various extension activities like field days, exhibitions, exposure visits, demonstration, transfer of technologies through mass media etc. to acquaint the women farmers with latest technologies.Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development as a sub-scheme of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The objective of the sub-scheme is to empower women Self Help Group (SHG) members as Mahila Kisan and train them on adoption of agro ecological practices, enhanced livestock practices and scientific cultivation/collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). To provide market access, the Mahila Kisans are supported to mobilized into Producer Collectives. The SHG members are facilitated to get credit access through the capitalization support given to Cluster Level Federation (CLF) and SHG credit linkage program. *****