Crisis to Confidence: Mahila Kisan Sasakthikaran Pariyojana - Programme for Empowerment of Women Farmers - in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

In India, despite being engaged in farming and farm-related activities, women are not recognized as 'farmers' and have limited access to technology, credit, inputs, market and agricultural extension services. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), an initiative of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), was implemented as a message of hope for women farmers. The initiative recognizes women as farmers and mobilizes them into collectives at the village level. The MKSP builds the capacity of women farmers to make decisions concerning their lives and livelihoods; provides training on different key issues such as organizational management, sustainable agricultural practices and food and nutrition security. The small initiative started by MSSRF has achieved national recognition with the Government of India launching a programme under the same name in 2010. In the context of high rates of farmer suicides in India resulting in many single women farmers, this case study and accompanying video analyze the experience of MKSP, highlighting the results achieved, major challenges and learnings.