Bengaluru, Jan 21 (IANS) The three-day National Conclave on ‘SHG-led Natural Farming: Making of Lakhpati Didis’, organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Karnataka Department of Livelihood and Entrepreneurship, began in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Addressing the National Conference on Natural Farming, Sharan Prakash R. Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Livelihood, and Entrepreneurship, stated that women are emerging as a dominant force across sectors, including natural farming.

“Karnataka government accords top priority to livelihood generation, especially for women, and has launched special schemes to promote natural farming as a sustainable income source, stated women are emerging as a dominant force across sectors, including natural farming,” he said.

“In Karnataka, women are at the centre of this transformation. They are achieving remarkable success in adopting and promoting natural farming practices,” Patil said.

He highlighted that under the Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) – Sanjeevini, women self-help groups (SHGs) are practising chemical-free, low-cost natural farming. Many of them are serving as Krushi Sakhis and community resource persons, while also running key enterprises in bio-input production and value addition.

Patil noted that natural farming has created skilled and dignified rural employment opportunities for women. Nearly 5.26 lakh SHG members have been trained in soil health management, climate-resilient cropping practices, processing, branding and market linkages, he added.

Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy said several schemes have already been implemented by the Agriculture Department and assured that more focused measures would be taken to promote natural farming.

The state government is providing substantial financial support to the agriculture sector and is committed to empowering farmers, especially women farmers, by extending necessary facilities and benefits, he said.

T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, MoRD, emphasised that governments and agencies must deepen collaboration to streamline systems, align incentives and empower women’s institutions to drive implementation.

He urged State Missions to clearly outline how farming integrates into the DAY-NRLM livelihood strategy, its role in achieving Lakhpati Didi outcomes and the convergence support needed.

–IANS

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