Jharkhand’s Women Farmers’ Scheme Aims to Transform Traditional Agriculture, Says Minister

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey on Thursday said the state’s proposed Mahila Kisan Khushhali Yojana could play a major role in changing the future of farming by strengthening the role of women in agriculture and improving their livelihood opportunities.

Speaking at a state-level stakeholder consultation on the scheme at Hotel Radisson Blu in Ranchi, Tirkey said the initiative has been designed to give greater recognition to women farmers and empower them economically.

She said the Agriculture Department was seeking suggestions from women farmers, agricultural organisations and other stakeholders before finalising the scheme so that its implementation addresses the actual needs of women working in the sector.

“The consultation should not be treated as a mere formality. The focus should be on the outcome and on incorporating practical suggestions into the scheme,” the minister said.

The minister said the scheme could also help change the state's traditional approach to farming. A large section of Jharkhand’s farmers continues to depend on conventional agricultural practices, and the government wants to encourage approaches that can improve productivity, income and livelihood security.

Tirkey said greater participation of women in government programmes can contribute to their self-reliance and strengthen the state’s rural economy. The proposed scheme seeks to ensure that women are not merely beneficiaries of agricultural programmes but also play a meaningful role in decisions concerning farming and livelihoods.

Focus on skills, markets and higher incomes

Agriculture Department Special Secretary Gopal Ji Tiwari said the scheme is intended to build the capacities of women farmers and increase their participation in agricultural decision-making.

The initiative will also focus on improving access to markets, encouraging value addition and creating opportunities for women farmers to increase their incomes. Tiwari said inputs from organisations working in agriculture, along with direct feedback from women farmers, would be important in making the final scheme more practical and effective.

A presentation was made during the consultation programme explaining the concept and draft framework of the Mahila Kisan Khushhali Yojana. Stakeholders and women farmers subsequently participated in an open-house discussion on the scheme’s objectives, scope and proposed Integrated Farming System (IFS) models, among other aspects.

The emphasis on integrated farming could help farmers diversify their sources of income by combining different agricultural activities instead of relying on a single crop or livelihood activity. Such approaches can be particularly relevant for small and marginal farming households.

The consultation brought together women farmers from different parts of Jharkhand, agricultural stakeholders and officials from various institutions.

Director of Agriculture Vidyanand Sharma Pankaj, Director of Horticulture Praveen Kerketta, Director of Soil Conservation Vikas Kumar, representatives of NABARD, lead banks, ICAR, Birsa Agricultural University, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), along with departmental officials and employees, attended the programme.