MKSP
The Mahila Kisaan Shasaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) is a sub component of Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-NRLM (DAY-NRLM), with an aim to empower women in agriculture. Its objective is to strengthen smallholder agriculture through promotion of sustainable agriculture practices such as:
- Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture (CMSA),
- Non Pesticide Management (NPM), Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF),
- Pashu-Sakhi model for doorstep animal care services and,
- Sustainable regeneration and harvesting of Non-Timber Forest Produce among others.
The focus of MKSP is on capacitating the smallholders to adopt sustainable climate change resilient agro- ecology, eventually creating a pool of skilled community professionals.
JKSRLM (Umeed) under (DAY-NRLM) has a vision for reaching out to approximately 9 lakhs rural women. Since most of households in rural areas, are engaged in agriculture, livestock activity and NTFP as their primary source of income. DAY-NRLM being a livelihoods promotion program will support each family with multiple livelihoods. MKSP would engage with these poor households and help them to adopt sustainable practices in agriculture, livestock practices and NTFP making them viable livelihoods for the poor households.
The activities under MKSP revolves around following guidelines:
- Focused intervention towards landless, small and marginal households is an important component of MKSP policy.
- Strong Community Institutions comprising of women farmers must form the foundation for all intervention.
- Promotion of practices like Non Pesticide Management (NPM), sustainable regeneration and harvesting of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) and better Livestock Production and Management practices.
- Promotion of food and nutritional security at both the household and community level
- Creation of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and Pashu Sakhis from the pool of community best practitioners. These “community heroes” to be encouraged to spearhead the expansion and deepening of best practices.
Initiatives under MKSP project in Jammu & Kashmir.
- As a pilot project CMSA was initiated in two blocks, Chenani and Bishna.
– 1200 Mahila Kisans Involved
– 2672 Area of land covered.
– 1060 Mahila Kisans registered on PGS portal.
Key activities under taken in CMSA were:
— NADEP Composting
— Systematic Rice Intensive Practices (SRI)
— Systematic Wheat Intensive Practices (SWI) 36×36 model
— Preparation of Panchagavya, Ghana Jeevamrutham, Dhruve Jeevamrutham & Hari marchi to Sub Committee members/ farmers and SHGs members
— Practical demonstration of microbial formulation: Ghana Jeevamrutham, Dhruve Jeevamrutham & Hari Marchi Paste
— Methods adoption and demonstration of physical / biological methods of pest management and bio pesticide (Agniastram, Chili Garlic, Neem and Cow Urine).
— Farmers Field Schools (under FFS, a group of 10 to 12 SHG members/ farmers are practicing NPM techniques in the field of one farmer via demonstration of activities, identification of diseases and methods to remove the diseases)
Mahila Kissan Sashakti Karan Paryojana (MKSP)
Based on impact of CMSA, which focused only management of organic fertilizer (non-pesticide Management) and systematic Intensive seeding sowing practices, full-fledged /comprehensive sustainable agricultures practices/activities were taken up which focused on soil treatment, seed treatment, water harvesting, organic fertilizers, drudgery reducing tools etc under MKSP. Additionally, the focus of MKSP is on skill building of smallholder farmers in the practices of sustainable; climate change resilient eco-agriculture, Promotion of Pashu Sakhis for improved Animal Husbandry practices, and, sustainable regeneration as well as harvesting of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP).
Vision MKSP
- Each poor family has two livelihoods strengthened.
- All Mahila Kisans are Farmer Scientists and community knowledge Disseminators.
- The areas covered under MKSP are local best practice sites – Incubation Centres for development of pro- farmer livelihoods solutions.
- Best practicing farmers are at the center of communication network as CRPs (Community Resource Persons).
The activities under MKSP revolves around;
- Strong community institutions of women farmers.
- Sustainable agriculture:
- Low cost sustainable practices such as NPM/IPM/Integrated Nutrition Management.
- Mitigation of risk exposure to hazardous farm practices.
- Soil health Management.
- Soil & health conservation and ground water recharging,
- Bio-diversity enhancement- poly cropping, multi-layer farming etc.
- Use of indigenous knowledge.
- Resource Management.
- Suitability of technology to the local agro-ecology.
- Resilience to climate change Integrated Natural Farming.
- Drudgery reduction for women farmers
- Focus on landless, small and marginal farmers as project participants.