Nesar Ahmad
and Mahendra Singh Rao[1]
and Mahendra Singh Rao[1]
Women
and Agriculture
and Agriculture
The agriculture sector in India contributes
16% of the GDP and employs 49% of the total workforce of the country. Public
expenditure towards the agriculture sector has been poor, however, the Union
government has promised the farmer’s income would be doubled by 2022. The role
of women in agriculture is critical. As per Census 2011, out of total female
main workers, 55 per cent were agricultural labourers and 24 per cent were
cultivators[2].
However, women own only 12.08 % of all operational holdings (Agricultural
Census 2011-12)[3].
The Economic Survey, 207-18 emphasized the need for “Policy for Women Farmers”.
Some of the policy suggestions made by the Economic Survey 2017-18 are following[4]:
16% of the GDP and employs 49% of the total workforce of the country. Public
expenditure towards the agriculture sector has been poor, however, the Union
government has promised the farmer’s income would be doubled by 2022. The role
of women in agriculture is critical. As per Census 2011, out of total female
main workers, 55 per cent were agricultural labourers and 24 per cent were
cultivators[2].
However, women own only 12.08 % of all operational holdings (Agricultural
Census 2011-12)[3].
The Economic Survey, 207-18 emphasized the need for “Policy for Women Farmers”.
Some of the policy suggestions made by the Economic Survey 2017-18 are following[4]:
- Earmarking at
least 30 per cent of the budget allocation for women beneficiaries in all ongoing
schemes/ programmes and development activities. - Initiating women
centric activities to ensure benefits of various beneficiary-oriented
programs/schemes reach them. - Focusing on women
self-help group (SHG) to connect them to micro-credit through capacity building
activities and to provide information and ensuring their representation in
different decision-making bodies.
Moreover, the Economic Survey highlights the
need of recognizing women as farmers. But this is not reflected in the budgets
presented by the Union Government.
Budget
for the Agriculture Sector
for the Agriculture Sector
Let us first take a look at the status of
agriculture in the budget this year. The Finance Minister in her first budget
speech said: “we will invest widely in agricultural infrastructure”. However,
the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not show
much increase in this. The total allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare is Rs. 142,301 crore for 2019-20 BE, which is increased to
nearly 80% from the previous year 2018-19 RE (79026 Crore) (Table 1). However, this increase is mainly
due to higher allocation (75000 cr.) for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) which was launched in the
interim budget for 2019-20 presented by the government in February this year. If we exclude this
amount the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will be
less than the previous year’s revised estimates.
agriculture in the budget this year. The Finance Minister in her first budget
speech said: “we will invest widely in agricultural infrastructure”. However,
the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not show
much increase in this. The total allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare is Rs. 142,301 crore for 2019-20 BE, which is increased to
nearly 80% from the previous year 2018-19 RE (79026 Crore) (Table 1). However, this increase is mainly
due to higher allocation (75000 cr.) for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) which was launched in the
interim budget for 2019-20 presented by the government in February this year. If we exclude this
amount the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will be
less than the previous year’s revised estimates.
Table 1: Union Budget Allocation under the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare (Rs. in crore)
and Farmers Welfare (Rs. in crore)
|
Department
|
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
|
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries
|
Dept. of Agricultural Research and Education
|
Total Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with
Interest Subvention |
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
|
|
2014-15 (A)
|
25255
|
1822
|
4840
|
31917
|
5480.05
|
|
2015-16 (A)
|
28296
|
1410
|
5386
|
35092
|
6862.05
|
|
2016-17 (A)
|
36912
|
1858
|
5729
|
44500
|
4714.13
|
|
2017-18 (RE)
|
41105
|
2167
|
6992
|
50264
|
7660
|
|
2017-18 (AE)
|
37397
|
2022
|
6943
|
46362
|
5313.47
|
|
2018-19 (BE)
|
46700
|
3100
|
7800
|
57600
|
8860
|
|
2018-19 (RE)
|
67800
|
3273
|
7953
|
79026
|
7612.5
|
|
2019-20 (BE)
|
130485.2
|
3737
|
8079
|
142301.2
|
8245.25
|
|
Growth of expenditure
over previous year’s RE (%) |
92.5
|
14.2
|
1.6
|
80.1
|
8.3
|
Source: Union
Budget, various years, Ministry of Finance (GoI)
Budget, various years, Ministry of Finance (GoI)
Besides, Rs. 8245.25 crore has been allocated to the Department of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which comes under the newly created Ministry
of Jal Skati. This allocation is an increase by only about 8.3% over the
previous year (2018-19) revised estimate.
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which comes under the newly created Ministry
of Jal Skati. This allocation is an increase by only about 8.3% over the
previous year (2018-19) revised estimate.
Allocation
under major schemes of the agriculture sector:
under major schemes of the agriculture sector:
If we look at the scheme-wise allocation
for major schemes of the agriculture sector, the incremental increase is seen for the
schemes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Interest
Subvention for Providing Short Term Credit to Farmers, Price Stabilization Fund
in the Department of Consumer Affairs and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
(Under MoA). On the other hand budget allocation is decreased for the scheme
likes White Revolution, Har Khet ko Pani etc. Allocations
for the Mission on Oilseeds and Palm oil have now merged with the National Food
Security Mission, budget for which shows an increase of about 32%. But if we add
the budget for NFSM and Mission on Oilseeds and palm oil for the previous year,
the increase is not so impressive. There is a decline in budget for white
revolution (cotton) and there is not much increase in budget for Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna (RKVY). The FM announced Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY) for a focused fisheries management framework. However, the budget for
Blue Revolution remains lower than the last year’s budget estimates and has
shown an increase of only about 8% from last years revised estimate.
for major schemes of the agriculture sector, the incremental increase is seen for the
schemes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Interest
Subvention for Providing Short Term Credit to Farmers, Price Stabilization Fund
in the Department of Consumer Affairs and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
(Under MoA). On the other hand budget allocation is decreased for the scheme
likes White Revolution, Har Khet ko Pani etc. Allocations
for the Mission on Oilseeds and Palm oil have now merged with the National Food
Security Mission, budget for which shows an increase of about 32%. But if we add
the budget for NFSM and Mission on Oilseeds and palm oil for the previous year,
the increase is not so impressive. There is a decline in budget for white
revolution (cotton) and there is not much increase in budget for Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna (RKVY). The FM announced Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
(PMMSY) for a focused fisheries management framework. However, the budget for
Blue Revolution remains lower than the last year’s budget estimates and has
shown an increase of only about 8% from last years revised estimate.
Women and Agriculture Budget
If we look
at this year’s budget from the perspective of women farmers and in light of the
above-mentioned policy measures suggested by Economic Survey, 2017-18, we do
not get a very optimistic picture. The Finance Minister did not say much about
the women farmers in her budget speech[5]. She
talked about the role of women in the economy, especially in the rural economy and said the
government is going to form a committee to review the gender-responsive budget (GRB) as being presented now. The FM also announced a new Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for focused development of the fishery sector, which
employs a significant percentage of women. She also
announced that every member of women SHGs who has a Jan Dhan account will be entitled
to Rs. 5,000 overdraft, which can benefit the women farmers as well.
at this year’s budget from the perspective of women farmers and in light of the
above-mentioned policy measures suggested by Economic Survey, 2017-18, we do
not get a very optimistic picture. The Finance Minister did not say much about
the women farmers in her budget speech[5]. She
talked about the role of women in the economy, especially in the rural economy and said the
government is going to form a committee to review the gender-responsive budget (GRB) as being presented now. The FM also announced a new Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for focused development of the fishery sector, which
employs a significant percentage of women. She also
announced that every member of women SHGs who has a Jan Dhan account will be entitled
to Rs. 5,000 overdraft, which can benefit the women farmers as well.
Status of Gender Budget in
Agriculture Sector:
Agriculture Sector:
As we know, the government has been presenting a Gender Budget Statement
(GBS) in the name of Gender Responsive Budget for more than a decade now. The
GBS provides a list of schemes under each Ministry/Department and in which
either all the budget is going towards women (Part A of the GBS) or at least
30% of the budget of the scheme is going towards women beneficiaries (Part B of
the GBS). The GRB process is promoted and monitored by the Minister of Women
and Child Development and all the Ministries/Departments are supposed to have a
Gender Budget Cell which should guide the Ministry/Department on how to make
their policies, programmes and budget more gender sensitive. As mentioned
above, the Finance Minister has announced to set up a committee to review the
GRB / GBS process in the country.
(GBS) in the name of Gender Responsive Budget for more than a decade now. The
GBS provides a list of schemes under each Ministry/Department and in which
either all the budget is going towards women (Part A of the GBS) or at least
30% of the budget of the scheme is going towards women beneficiaries (Part B of
the GBS). The GRB process is promoted and monitored by the Minister of Women
and Child Development and all the Ministries/Departments are supposed to have a
Gender Budget Cell which should guide the Ministry/Department on how to make
their policies, programmes and budget more gender sensitive. As mentioned
above, the Finance Minister has announced to set up a committee to review the
GRB / GBS process in the country.
The annual report of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer
Welfare informs that the Department has a Gender Budget Cell and also a
National Gender Resource Centre under the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension
(SMAE)[6].
Budget for SMAE, however, declined from Rs. 1020 crore in last year’s budget
estimates to Rs. 950 crores this year. In Previous year (2018-19) the revised
estimate shows a huge decline in the budget for this scheme from Rs. 1020
crores to Rs. 875 crores.
Welfare informs that the Department has a Gender Budget Cell and also a
National Gender Resource Centre under the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension
(SMAE)[6].
Budget for SMAE, however, declined from Rs. 1020 crore in last year’s budget
estimates to Rs. 950 crores this year. In Previous year (2018-19) the revised
estimate shows a huge decline in the budget for this scheme from Rs. 1020
crores to Rs. 875 crores.
Now if we turn to the GBS of the MoA&FW, there are only two schemes
reported by the ministry in the part A of GBS and both are under the Department
of Agricultural Research and Education (Table 2). It shows that neither of two
main departments, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers
Welfare and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has any women
specific programme. One of the 100% women specific allocations under the Department
of Agricultural Research and Education is going towards the Central Institute
for Women in Agriculture, located in Bhubaneswar and other is going towards a
research project on home science, again in Bhubaneswar. Now, whether the
research on home science is beneficial to women farmers or is actually
something which reinforces gender stereotypes and inequality is something
one should look into. However, this year in the Part B there are two schemes of
Department of Dairy Development and Fisheries of which 100% allocation have
been reported as gender component (Table 4).
These schemes are Blue Revolution (for fishery development) and Diary
Entrepreneurship Development. But then, why these two schemes are not shown in
Part A is a mystery. Also, though there is a high percentage of women working in
fisheries, how fair it is to report 100% allocations as gender budget because
men also are engaged in the sector.
reported by the ministry in the part A of GBS and both are under the Department
of Agricultural Research and Education (Table 2). It shows that neither of two
main departments, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers
Welfare and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has any women
specific programme. One of the 100% women specific allocations under the Department
of Agricultural Research and Education is going towards the Central Institute
for Women in Agriculture, located in Bhubaneswar and other is going towards a
research project on home science, again in Bhubaneswar. Now, whether the
research on home science is beneficial to women farmers or is actually
something which reinforces gender stereotypes and inequality is something
one should look into. However, this year in the Part B there are two schemes of
Department of Dairy Development and Fisheries of which 100% allocation have
been reported as gender component (Table 4).
These schemes are Blue Revolution (for fishery development) and Diary
Entrepreneurship Development. But then, why these two schemes are not shown in
Part A is a mystery. Also, though there is a high percentage of women working in
fisheries, how fair it is to report 100% allocations as gender budget because
men also are engaged in the sector.
Table- 2: PART A- 100% Women specific
programmes of MoA&FW (Rs. crores)
programmes of MoA&FW (Rs. crores)
|
MINISTRY/DEPARTMENT
|
2017-18
BE
|
2017-18
RE
|
2017-18
AE
|
2018-19
BE
|
2018-19
RE
|
2019-20
BE
|
|
Department of Agricultural Research and Education
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Central Institute for Women in
Agriculture, Bhubaneswar
|
14.94
|
9.64
|
2.89
|
10.64
|
11.00
|
11.50
|
|
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Home Science, Bhubaneswar
|
29.1
|
10.1
|
7.82
|
11.10
|
9.00
|
9.34
|
|
Total:
|
44.04
|
19.74
|
10.71
|
21.74
|
20.00
|
20.84
|
Source: Union
Budget, 2018-19 and 2019-20, Ministry of Finance (GoI)
Since last year the government is
also providing revised estimates and actual expenditure made under the schemes
listed in Part A of the GBS. And, as the table above suggests the actual
expenditure under both the schemes listed in Part A has been much lower than
the budget estimate during the year 2017-18. In 2018-19 as well, the revised
estimate for the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Home Science,
Bhubneshwar is lower than the budget estimate.
also providing revised estimates and actual expenditure made under the schemes
listed in Part A of the GBS. And, as the table above suggests the actual
expenditure under both the schemes listed in Part A has been much lower than
the budget estimate during the year 2017-18. In 2018-19 as well, the revised
estimate for the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Home Science,
Bhubneshwar is lower than the budget estimate.
Now, looking at Part B of the GBS of
MoA&FW (Table 4), 14 schemes of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and
Farmers Welfare are listed here and in all of them the gender component i.e.
budget going towards women is shown to be 30%.
MoA&FW (Table 4), 14 schemes of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and
Farmers Welfare are listed here and in all of them the gender component i.e.
budget going towards women is shown to be 30%.
Table- 3: PART B- 30% Women specific programme of
MoA&FW (Rs. Crores)
MoA&FW (Rs. Crores)
|
Scheme
|
2018-19 BE
|
2018-19 RE
|
2019-20
BE
|
||||||
|
Total
Budget
|
GB
component |
% of GB
|
Total
Budget |
GB component
|
% of GB
|
Total
Budget |
GB component
|
% of GB
|
|
|
Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanisation
|
1165
|
350
|
30
|
898
|
269
|
30
|
1000
|
300
|
30
|
|
National Project on Soil Health and Fertility
|
400
|
120
|
30
|
300
|
90
|
30
|
324
|
97
|
30
|
|
National Food Security Mission
|
1691
|
507
|
30
|
1510
|
453
|
30
|
2000
|
600
|
30
|
|
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna
|
3600
|
1080
|
30
|
3600
|
1080
|
30
|
3745
|
1124
|
30
|
|
National Mission on Oil Seeds and Palm Oil
|
400
|
120
|
30
|
352
|
106
|
30
|
|
…
|
|
|
Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojna
|
360
|
108
|
30
|
300
|
90
|
30
|
325
|
98
|
30
|
|
Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material
|
332
|
100
|
30
|
332
|
100
|
30
|
380
|
114
|
30
|
|
National Project on Organic Farming
|
8
|
…
|
|
3
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna-Per-Drop More Crop
|
4000
|
1200
|
30
|
2955
|
886
|
30
|
3500
|
1050
|
30
|
|
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
|
2536
|
761
|
30
|
2100
|
630
|
30
|
2225
|
668
|
30
|
|
Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension
|
1020
|
306
|
30
|
875
|
263
|
30
|
950
|
285
|
30
|
|
Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern
Region |
160
|
48
|
30
|
182
|
55
|
30
|
160
|
48
|
30
|
|
Rain fed Area Development and Climate change
|
234
|
70
|
30
|
225
|
68
|
30
|
250
|
75
|
30
|
|
National Project on Agro-Forestry
|
75
|
23
|
30
|
40
|
12
|
30
|
50
|
15
|
30
|
|
Total
|
15981
|
4792
|
30
|
13672
|
4101
|
30
|
14911
|
4473
|
30
|
|
Department of Fisheries
|
|||||||||
|
Blue
Revolution- Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
550
|
550
|
100
|
|
Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying |
|||||||||
|
Dairy Entrepreneurship Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
325
|
325
|
100
|
|
National Livestock Mission
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
480
|
380
|
79
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
805
|
705
|
88
|
Source: Union Budget,
2018-19 and 2019-20, Ministry of Finance (GoI)
2018-19 and 2019-20, Ministry of Finance (GoI)
This year three schemes of Department
of Dairy Development and Fisheries are also listed in the Part B of the GBS.
Two of those schemes, as mentioned above, are showing 100 allocations towards
women and should be listed in Part A. The third in the list is National
Livestock Mission in which 79% allocation has been reported as gender
component.
of Dairy Development and Fisheries are also listed in the Part B of the GBS.
Two of those schemes, as mentioned above, are showing 100 allocations towards
women and should be listed in Part A. The third in the list is National
Livestock Mission in which 79% allocation has been reported as gender
component.
The ritualistic reporting of 30% as
gender component in almost all the sachems reported in Part B indicates towards
a notional or nominal reporting without any particular basis. The
MoA&FW must come out with realistic figures based on concrete data on women
farmer beneficiaries of these schemes. Additionally, since the Part B of the
GBS only provides a budget estimate and no revised estimates and actually
expenditure figures, as it has started giving for the schemes in Part A of GBS,
it is also not known how much of these allocations shown as gender
component is actually being spent.
gender component in almost all the sachems reported in Part B indicates towards
a notional or nominal reporting without any particular basis. The
MoA&FW must come out with realistic figures based on concrete data on women
farmer beneficiaries of these schemes. Additionally, since the Part B of the
GBS only provides a budget estimate and no revised estimates and actually
expenditure figures, as it has started giving for the schemes in Part A of GBS,
it is also not known how much of these allocations shown as gender
component is actually being spent.
Also, the important Department of Water Resources,
River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation or even the newly created Ministry of
Jal Shakti, of which this department is now a part, does not report any of
their schemes in either Part A or Part B of the GBS, showing their schemes for
irrigation and other purposes in the water sector have no gender concerns at
all.
River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation or even the newly created Ministry of
Jal Shakti, of which this department is now a part, does not report any of
their schemes in either Part A or Part B of the GBS, showing their schemes for
irrigation and other purposes in the water sector have no gender concerns at
all.
Conclusions
The union budget 2019-20, which is the first budget of the second tenure of Modi government, does not sound very
promising for the millions of women farmers. The budget speech does not even
mention women farmers, there are no specific programmes announced for women
farmers except for one in the fisheries sector. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman
under which the farmers are to be given support of Rs. 6,000 (announced in
the interim budget before the general election) is also linked to land
ownership and is therefore not likely to benefit the majority of women farmers
who do not own land. The gender budget statement of ministry is mechanically
reporting 30% gender component in almost all the schemes listed in the Part B of
the GBS and the two schemes in which 100% allocation is going towards women are
not able to utilize the allocated budget fully. This year two more schemes have
been reported to be having 100% gender component but these are reported in Part
B instead of Part A. we hope that next year onwards these two schemes are also
reported in Part A and their revised estimates and actual expenditure are also
reported. We also hope that the Department of Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation
which is an important department for agriculture sector also devices women centric
programmes and thinks ways of benefiting women farmers.
promising for the millions of women farmers. The budget speech does not even
mention women farmers, there are no specific programmes announced for women
farmers except for one in the fisheries sector. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman
under which the farmers are to be given support of Rs. 6,000 (announced in
the interim budget before the general election) is also linked to land
ownership and is therefore not likely to benefit the majority of women farmers
who do not own land. The gender budget statement of ministry is mechanically
reporting 30% gender component in almost all the schemes listed in the Part B of
the GBS and the two schemes in which 100% allocation is going towards women are
not able to utilize the allocated budget fully. This year two more schemes have
been reported to be having 100% gender component but these are reported in Part
B instead of Part A. we hope that next year onwards these two schemes are also
reported in Part A and their revised estimates and actual expenditure are also
reported. We also hope that the Department of Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation
which is an important department for agriculture sector also devices women centric
programmes and thinks ways of benefiting women farmers.
[1]
Authors are associated with Jaipur based Budget Analysis and Research Centre
Trust (www.barctrust.org)
Authors are associated with Jaipur based Budget Analysis and Research Centre
Trust (www.barctrust.org)
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