Annual Report 2009-2010 - Department of Agriculture & Co-operation

women's self-help groups and 18,075 women's
user groups have been formed in the project
areas covered under the programme.
IV. Crops: The National Food Security
Mission (NFSM) was launched in October
2007-08, targeting three important
foodgrain crops-rice, wheat, and pulses.
The beneficiaries of the Mission include
small and marginal farmers, including
women farmers. States have been
advised to set aside at least 33 per cent
of the total allocation for small and
marginal farmers, including women
farmers. To create a more visible impact
of these technologies, progressive small
and marginal farmers are given
preference for seed mini-kits and
demonstrations.
V. Technology Mission on Oilseeds and
Pulses (TMOP): The Integrated Scheme
of Pulses, Oilseeds, Palm Oil, and Maize,
provides for assistance at 50 per cent of
the cost of sprinkler sets or Rs. 15,000
per set, whichever is lower, to women
farmers, and assistance at the rate of Rs.
15,000 for 210 meters of pipes. Further,
assistance to the tune of 50 per cent of
the cost is also being provided for drip
irrigation.
VI. Machinery and Technology: Under the
Central Sector Scheme-Promotion and
Strengthening of Agricultural
Mechanisation through Training, Testing,
and Demonstration, during 2009-10,
about 1,575 gender-friendly equipment
have been distributed amongst farm
women. Under the scheme for
Outsourcing of Training and
Demonstration of Newly Developed
Agricultural Equipment, including
Horticultural Equipment at Farmers'
Fields, separate physical targets have
been fixed and 10 per cent of the funds
have been allocated for women farmers.
During 2009-10 a total of 484 women
have been imparted training (till
December 2009) at Farm Machinery,
Training, and Testing Institutes (FMTTIs).
A list of about 30 identified genderfriendly
tools and equipment developed
by the Research and Development
Organisation for use in different farm
operations has been sent to all states and
UTs, for popularising them. State
governments have been directed to
earmark 10 per cent of total funds
allocated for the training for women
farmers.
VII. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM):
Under the National Programme for
Organic Farming, 25 per cent of seats are
reserved for training of women farmers
in organic farming.
VIII. Cooperation: With the overall objective
of bringing women into the cooperative
fold, to develop their participation in
group activities and to improve their
socio-economic condition, the NCUI is
now running four exclusive women's
development projects located at Shimoga
(Karnataka), Berhampur (Orissa), Imphal
(Manipur), and Bhopal (MP), under the
Special Scheme for Intensification of
Cooperative Education in cooperatively
under-developed states. Besides, each
field project has a special women's
development component. Under this,
women are organised into self-help
groups to help them develop thrifty
habits. Women are also provided training
to equip them to undertake incomegenerating
activities from their own
resources or by borrowing from
cooperatives. Project personnel help
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