Malappuram (Kerala): Women farmers in Malappuram are battling against all odds to save their land. In God's own country, shocking reports have come to light on the green paddy fields, which are one of the attractions in the state - the 9 lakh hectares of the 1970s has now shrunk to just 2.3 lakh hectares. But the women farmers are now battling the odds to save what is left.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the district had organised these women into self help groups three years ago and turned them into skilled, mechanized farmers. The move was mainly prompted by scarcity and high cost of labour. And the plan is now paying off. There has been Rs 12000 per acre fall in total expenditure.
S Sajeena, Assistant Professor, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malappuram, says, We chose women over men for this project because we realised that it will be a means to empower them. They are earning a steady income now which we are sure will be used for the welfare of the whole family.
Dr S Prabhu Kumar, Zonar Project Director, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, says, Slowly we are going to implement this approach all over India, where labour is a big problem. It has created a good impact not only in this district but in the state of Kerala. ...
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09:01 AM, Nov 15, 2012
Rome: Women in rural areas could help reduce by up to 17 percent the number of the world's hungry which currently stands at almost one billion, according to a report issued on Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). If women had the same access to land, technology, financial services, education and markets as men, agricultural production could be increased and the number of hungry people reduced by...
11:40 AM, Mar 08, 2011
