The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Need for focus on rural women in agriculture

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Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Need for focus on rural women in agriculture

Staff Reporter

Follow example of Centrally-sponsored ‘Agricultural Technology Management Agency’ scheme, NGOs told

PUDUKOTTAI: Speakers at a workshop on ‘Women in agriculture in rural India’ underlined the need for importance of women’s participation in various schemes being implemented by the Central and State governments.

They called upon the non-governmental organisations to emulate the example of the Centrally-sponsored ‘Agricultural Technology Management Agency’ (ATMA) scheme, which had successfully roped in a large number of women in agriculture through a participative drive.

The Joint Director of Agriculture M. Kuppusamy said that many schemes targeting women as beneficiaries were being implemented by the Central and State governments.

He outlined the importance of several schemes and underlined the role of non-governmental organisations in motivating women to take maximum advantage of the same.

Cafeteria approach

Explaining the objective of the workshop, organised jointly by the ‘Centre to Actuate the Rural and Environment’ (CARE) Tiruchi and the CRISP, Hyderabad, the secretary of CARE A. Siddique said that the CRISP had developed a methodology known as ‘Cafeteria approach for women in agriculture,’ based on prolonged research programmes for two decades on the socio-economic development of women in agriculture.

The workshop also aimed at ascertaining the women’s views on bringing about any changes in the ongoing schemes.

The consultant from the Cirrus Management Service, Bangalore, M. S. Ashok said that the CMS would offer free technological and marketing support for their economic activities.

Tahseen Geofry from Galsgow Caleonian University, United Kingdom, and V. Rasheed Sulaiman and N. J. Kalaivani both from CRISP, Hyderabad, were among those who spoke.

They emphasised the need for more focus on rural women in agriculture. Rural women should be empowered to take maximum advantage of marketing strategy and technological development.

Officials from various departments participated in the workshop.

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