As country is an agricultural nation, with majority of people and economy dependent on agriculture to a great extent, several initiatives have been taken to boost the sector significantly. In this regard, the Government has started the development of Agriculture Investment Portal named ‘Krishi Nivesh’ on 5th Dec 2022 to boost the agriculture investment in the country. The portal is under development. Krishi Nivesh Portal is being developed as an Integrated, centralized one stop Portal for all Agri- investors to avail benefits from various Government schemes. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar informed that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is promoting ‘mainstreaming of gender concerns in agriculture’. The Guidelines of the Scheme namely Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization, National Project on Soil Health and Fertility, National Food Security Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm, Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojna, Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material, National Project on Organic Farming, Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojna-Per-Drop More Crop, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region, Rainfed Area Development and Climate Change, National Project on Agro-Forestry have provisions for flow of funds and benefits for the women farmers under these Schemes. Further Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has unique features of convergence with any other scheme of Central or State government for the eligible activities under AIF. The beneficiaries of other schemes can avail 3% additional interest subvention on top of benefits availed under other scheme in form of capital or interest subsidy. Convergence has so far been implemented in AIF portal for schemes like PMFME and PMKSY under Ministry of Food Processing Industries, National horticulture board, PMKUSUM under MoNRE, AC&ABC etc. The convergence is also being taken up for integration with other schemes like GOBARDHAN of M/o Jal Shakti, Ministry of Cooperatives and other ministries and also with state governments.
Besides, trainings are being imparted to women farmers under various schemes of MoA&FW which include ATMA scheme, Cooperative Education Field Projects (NCDC) of DAC&FW; Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of DARE, ICAR and Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG) under Sub-Mission on Livestock Development of DAHD. The EDEG supports activities related to poultry, small ruminants, rabbit rearing, piggery etc. which are mainly taken up by women. Special skill training courses in agriculture and allied sectors are also being conducted for farmers including women farmers through KVKs, National Training Institutions of DAC & FW and State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute across the country. All these steps are aimed at building capacities and capabilities of farm women to adopt improved agricultural practices to get better returns.
