Kudumbasree to focus on collective farming

KOCHI: The Kudumbasree Poverty Eradication Mission in its 13 {+t} {+h} year will focus on collective farming as a means of empowering women and guaranteeing their financial emancipation. It also plans to intensify marketing to realise the full potential of the production base created thus far through the Neighbourhood Groups (NHGs) and Community Development Societies (CDS) leveraging bank finance and thrift fund.

In tangible terms, Kudumbasree women will expand their collective farming activities to nearly 70,000 more hectares across the State during the current financial year. Paddy, vegetables and fruits will be cultivated. At present women farmers under Kudumbasree carry out farming activities in about 25,000 hectares.

A senior official of Kudumbasree mission told The Hindu that collective farming was one of the pillars on which the process of women empowerment was being built.

Women under Kudumbasree CDS had proved that farming can be a profitable activity. The labour input comes from these women themselves. In addition to their wages, they also earn a profit when they sell their produce