MAKAAM has been hosting a learning/sharing session once every two months since August 2023. The sessions are typically held on the first Wednesday of every alternate month, focusing on topics aligned with MAKAAM’s work. The objective is to strengthen the alliance, increase interaction, and foster sharing among participants to effectively facilitate campaigns or events.
Women Farmers’ Journey to Agroecology:
September 13, 2024
In 2020, MAKAAM and organisations from six states conducted three rounds of surveys in eight research sites. The women farmers were from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Bundelkhand), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The study employed an extensive questionnaire to create detailed profiles of 40 women farmers and documented their experiences with agroecological farming.
In this sharing session of MAKAAM, the anchors of this study – Ms. Sejal Dand, Ms. S. Ashalatha and Ms. Seema Kulkarni, discussed the findings from this survey, weaving in testimonials of the participant women farmers. They discussed the methodology, profile of women farmers, agroecological practices, challenges and enabling factors that encouraged women farmers to take up natural farming. The session concluded with some recommendations for the government.
You can access the live broadcast of the webinar on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNvgoiVztlQ&t=193s
Here is the ppt:
Link to Case Studies booklet: AE Case Studies – MAKAAM – Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch | Home
The Summary report of the webinar and the Study report shall be shared here shortly.
Gender Integration Initiatives by WASSAN/OMM:
When one thinks of gender integration programs within organisations, we often find an add-and-stir approach being adopted where ‘gender’ is added to the mix with no intention of effecting any systemic and potentially transformative changes. The team of WASSAN, however, has worked hard to innovate and reconceptualise the role of women farmers in a nuanced and holistic manner.
In this session, they discussed their biggest learnings on their journey towards ideating and implementing gender transformative initiatives. The team from WASSAN also discussed the intersectional nature of their engagement, keeping in mind the needs and challenges before women farmers, particularly those from marginalised communities, especially in terms of reducing drudgery through women-centred machine design, enhancing their income, ensuring food and nutritional security as well as enabling them to take on a greater role in decision making within the family and outside.
Click here to watch the recording of the session.
Land Rights and Women Farmers:
In this session, speakers including Kinjal Pillai, Neelam Patel, Parul, and several grassroots workers from WGWLO (Working Group for Women and Land Ownership) discussed the complexities of women’s land rights issues and the importance of bringing all partners together to address them. They emphasized the importance of understanding land records and advocating for women’s rights at various levels, from the village to the district and block levels. They also discussed the impact of government schemes and the role of legal clinics in helping women farmers secure their land rights. Women farmers like Anandi Ben and Kanchan shared their experiences of facing challenges in claiming their late husbands’ land and their daughters’ inheritance, respectively.
Gender, Women’s Leadership, Forest Rights and Governance:
In October 2023, the forest rights thematic group presented the issues faced by women farmers engaged in the collection of forest produce. The presentation included a series of case studies from different states, shedding light on the challenges and concerns experienced by women in this aspect.
PM KISAN and Women Farmers:
In August 2023, a session was hosted on the coverage and access of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme for women farmers. Discussions revolved around a research study that MAKAAM is planning to initiate in several states concerning PM KISAN and women farmers. The meeting covered the proposed methodology, sampling, and questionnaire. Interested organizations and individuals were welcomed to participate in the process on voluntary basis with no resources.
Agridigitisation and Women Farmers:
Nachiket Udupa from MKSS (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan) and ASHA (Alliance for Holistic Agriculture) held an orientation session with the National Facilitation Team of MAKAAM on the impact of agridigitisation on women farmers. He discussed the transformative potential of digitization in Indian agriculture, highlighting its benefits like enhanced productivity, optimized resource management, and better market access through technologies like IoT. However, he also addressed challenges such as inadequate rural infrastructure, limited digital literacy, and data privacy concerns. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and communities to overcome these hurdles and achieve inclusive, sustainable digital transformation in agriculture. Here is the ppt and more resources on digitisation in agriculture shared by Nachiket:
