Context: Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare jointly launched a training programme for ‘Krishi Sakhis’ to promote natural farming.

• The programme was launched under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

Background

• To improve the financial status of the SHGs, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) have decided to converge their various schemes. 

• To this effect, an MoU was signed between MoA&FW and DAY-NRLM, MoRD on August 30, 2023 to certify ‘Krishi Sakhis’ as Para-Extension Workers by MANAGE, MoA&FW. 

About Krishi Sakhis

• The Krishi Sakhis training programme is aimed to train Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM)’s Krishi Sakhis in promoting Natural Farming.

Key Features

• Target: Training and certification of 50,000 Krishi Sakhis in a phased manner.

• Nodal Institution: National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF), a subordinate office of the agriculture ministry.

• Training Duration: 5-day course.

• Training Modules: The modules have been prepared by the NCONF and sent to the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) for the final review.

Objectives and Vision

• Transforming Villages: Aiming to create “Samrudhhi villages” and Lakpathi Self-Help Group (SHG) members, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision.

• Economic Empowerment: Two crore Lakhpati Didis to be enabled through this initiative.

• The role of Community Resource Persons in bringing the transformation in the rural areas through social and economic mobilisation.

• The transfer of technology from labs to land is critical and Community Resource Persons (CRPs) play a vital role in this. The CRPs can handhold small and marginal farmers in enhancing their productivity through natural farming.