Andhra Pradesh extends support to SC women farmers for natural farming push -Shagun

-Down to Earth

The government will use its extensive network of women’s self-help groups to encourage the transition.

The Andhra Pradesh government announced financial support to more than 70,000 women from scheduled castes (SC) to promote natural farming among marginal farmers.

Natural farming excludes the application of chemicals and promotes traditional agricultural practices. It is regarded as particularly useful for smallholder farmers as it reduces dependency on purchased inputs.  

A one-time subsidy of Rs 10,000 and an interest-free loan will be given to each of the identified 71,560 SC farmers, including the tenant farmers, in 30 districts. The move has been envisioned to help them switch from conventional to natural farming and reduce their input costs. 

SC farming households form 12 per cent of the state’s agricultural households, according to a 2019 National Statistical Office survey. A large share of them are tenant farmers.

The government will use its extensive network of women’s self-help groups (SHG) to encourage the transition.

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