Krishi Sakhi Initiative
Context:
The Prime Minister awarded certificates to over 30,000 self-help groups, recognizing them as Krishi Sakhis in Varanasi.
Relevance:
GS-2 GS-3 (Scheme, Agriculture)
Overview of Krishi Sakhi:
- The Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (KSCP) aims to empower rural women by training and certifying them as Krishi Sakhis, who will serve as Para-extension Workers in agriculture.
- This initiative supports the objectives of the “Lakhpati Didi” Program, focusing on economic upliftment and skill development of rural women.
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Phase 1 of the programme is currently active in 12 states: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
Role and Training:
Krishi Sakhis are selected due to their trusted status in the community and their farming experience. The comprehensive training includes:
- Agro-ecological practices from land preparation to harvest
- Organizing farmer field schools
- Seed bank establishment and management
- Soil health and moisture conservation practices
- Integrated farming systems
- Basics of livestock management
- Preparation and use of bio-inputs and establishment of bio-input shops
- Basic communication skills
Post-training, the Krishi Sakhis will undergo a proficiency test. Successful candidates will be certified as Para-extension Workers, enabling them to implement various Agriculture Ministry schemes for a fixed resource fee.
