Transforming Agriculture Touching Lives: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana.

Abstract

The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikarn Pariyojana (MKSP) was introduced as an independent livelihood initiative targeting women in the farm sector (agriculture and allied sector) under DAY-NRLM in 2011. Livestock, especially small ruminant has been envisaged in DAY-NRLM as an integral part of livelihood strategy. Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) has been included in MKSP as an integrated vertical. The program focus is to improve the present status of women in agriculture and enhance the opportunities for her empowerment. Community Resource Persons (CRP) are identified as best practitioners (locally named as Pashu Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi etc.) and are instrumental in promoting farm sector livelihoods (agriculture, animal husbandry and NTFP), through community to community sharing and learning – as a “proof of concept”.