Krishi Sakhi Program, Empowering Rural Women

On June 18, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded certificates to over 30,000 self-help groups as Krishi Sakhis in Varanasi. This initiative aims to enhance the skills of rural women in agriculture, recognizing their vital role in this sector.

What is the Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program (KSCP)?

The KSCP is part of the ambitious ‘Lakhpati Didi’ program, which aims to create 3 crore (30 million) Lakhpati Didis. Krishi Sakhi is one dimension of this larger initiative.

Key Objectives:

• Transform rural India by empowering women as Krishi Sakhis
• Train and certify Krishi Sakhis as para-extension workers
• Align with the “Lakhpati Didi” Program goals

Why Choose Krishi Sakhis as Agriculture Para-Extension Workers?

Krishi Sakhis are ideal for this role because they are:

• Trusted community resource persons
• Experienced farmers themselves
• Deeply rooted in farming communities
• Welcomed and respected by local farmers

Training Program for Krishi Sakhis

56-Day Training Modules:

1. Agro-ecological practices
2. Organizing farmer field schools
3. Seed bank establishment and management
4. Soil health and conservation practices
5. Integrated farming systems
6. Basic livestock management
7. Bio-inputs preparation and use
8. Basic communication skills

Additional Training:

• Refresher courses focusing on natural farming and soil health card

Employment Opportunities for Certified Krishi Sakhis

After completing training and passing a proficiency test, Krishi Sakhis can work on various Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare schemes, including:

1. Soil health advisory
2. Organic farming promotion
3. Crop demonstration
4. Crop insurance
5. Horticulture mission awareness
6. Climate-resilient agriculture practices
7. Agriculture infrastructure projects
8. Seed production training
9. Agricultural mechanization
10. Oilseeds mission
11. Plant protection
12. Kisan Credit Card support

Potential Earnings:

Certified Krishi Sakhis can earn between INR 60,000 to 80,000 per year.

Progress of the Krishi Sakhi Program

• 34,000 out of 70,000 Krishi Sakhis have been certified as para-extension workers
• The program has been launched in 12 states in Phase 1: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya

Krishi Sakhis in Action: MOVCDNER Scheme

Under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) scheme:

• 30 Krishi Sakhis work as Local Resource Persons (LRPs)
• They visit farms monthly to monitor activities and understand challenges
• Conduct weekly Farmer Interest Group (FIG) meetings
• Train farmers and assist with FPO functioning and marketing activities
• Maintain farmer diaries
• Earn INR 4,500 per month for these activities.