'75% women contributing in major crops' production'

New Delhi: It seems the government's initiatives to empower women have started yielding results as according to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report about 18 per cent of the agricultural householders are held by women.

According to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, the government has allocated more than 30 per cent funds for development activities of women.

While speaking on the occasion of Mahila Kisan Diwas (Women Farmers Day) on Monday, Singh said that besides agriculture, women have been making an exceptional contribution in horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, beekeeping, etc. Citing the findings of a research conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Singh said, "The ICAR report shows that participation of women is 75 per cent in the production of major crops, while 79 per cent in horticulture, 51 per cent in post-harvest work and 95 per cent in animal husbandry and fisheries." The research has been conducted in nine states.

Singh further said that a National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture, set up in the Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, has developed a women sensitisation module to bring about changes in the mindset and behaviour of male programme operators. About 98.14 lakh women farmers have been trained so far under the ATMA scheme of the ministry.

Stressing on the role of women farmers in doubling farmers' income, the minister said, "Special importance is being given to the role of women in achieving the goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022. An inter-ministerial committee has been formed on the empowerment of women to double the income of farmers."