Kudumbashree, the poverty eradication mission, has initiated steps to implement the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), a woman farmer empowerment programme.
The programme, to be implemented in the state in a big way, is expected to usher in innovative agricultural practices such as Zero Budget and precision farming on a larger scale than now is being practiced in the state.
According to officials, Kudumbashree has identified a total of 1000 master farmers to create a knowledge base and the background work to introduce the new practices is at an advanced stage in Ernakulam district.
Kudumbashree mission has been in the forefront of lease-land farming over the last couple of years and the new MKSP programme will carry forward the work done under the lease land farming programme.
A total of 4,461 hectares have been brought for lease land farming by more than 16,000 women farmers in different parts of the district.
It is pointed out that the Kudumbashree mission had helped to form nearly 6,000 joint liability groups (JLG) through which the women farmers operate. The objective for the formation of JLG is to avail farm loans and other facilities.
The leased land has been brought under crops as varied as pineapple and medicinal plants. Around 10 acres of land have been brought under pineapple while more than 12 acres have been brought under medicinal plants.
The other crops include paddy, which is being cultivated in 5,588 acres. There are around 300 acres under cool season vegetables, nearly 2,000 acres under banana, more than 10 acres under pulses and oil seeds, about 95 acres under tuber crops excluding tapioca, around 300 acres under tapioca and more than 2,300 acres under vegetables.
Among the JLGs formed, paddy, vegetables and banana crops have the largest numbers. All four of the crops have more than a 1,000 JLG’s each taking up their cultivation.