18 hrs ago
BKS Women’s Conclave Seeks Greater Role in Farm Policy
The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh is holding its first meeting specially for women farmers.
The meeting will take place in New Delhi on September 30.
About 7,000 women farmers and organisers are expected to attend.
BKS says women do much of the work in farming, livestock and fisheries.
It wants women to have a stronger voice when farming rules are made.
The meeting will discuss natural farming, seeds, jobs, livestock and food processing.
BKS also wants women farmers to get better access to government schemes.
The group is asking for farmers to receive better prices and for a short waiting period before the government responds to sudden price increases.
The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh will hold its first-ever women’s conclave in New Delhi on September 30.
About 7,000 women farmers and office-bearers from across India are expected to attend.
BKS says women perform 60–80% of agricultural tasks but have limited visibility in policymaking.
The event will address natural farming, seed conservation, livestock, employment, food processing and access to government schemes.
BKS wants farmers to receive maximum retail prices and proposes a 10–15-day pause before imports or price controls during sharp price rises.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, women farmers and office-bearers from across India, including BKS officials Mohini Mohan Mishra and Manju Dikshit.
- What
- The first All India Women Farmer Workers Conclave, focused on women’s role in agriculture and their representation in policymaking.
- Where
- The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
- When
- September 30; the announcement was reported on September 28.
- Why
- To highlight women’s contributions and challenges in agriculture, build their confidence, and seek greater participation in agricultural policymaking.
BKS Proposals
Current or Alternative Approach
Farm pricing
BKS Proposals
BKS opposes the minimum support price mechanism in its current form and wants farmers to receive the maximum retail price, saying MSP calculations do not adequately reflect costs.
Current or Alternative Approach
The existing approach uses the minimum support price mechanism, which BKS says does not adequately remunerate cultivators.
Response to price increases
BKS Proposals
BKS wants the government to wait 10–15 days before using imports or price controls when crop prices rise sharply, allowing farmers time to sell at better returns.
Current or Alternative Approach
After such a period, the government could use imports or price controls to protect consumers and industries, according to the BKS proposal.
Women’s policy representation
BKS Proposals
BKS says women perform a major share of work in farming, animal husbandry and fisheries and should have greater representation in agricultural policymaking.
Current or Alternative Approach
BKS says women’s participation is not sufficiently visible when agricultural policy decisions are made.
Key facts
- Organiser
- Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
- Event
- All India Women Farmer Workers Conclave
- Expected attendance
- Around 7,000 women farmers and office-bearers
- BKS membership
- Around 50 lakh members, including nearly seven lakh women
- Women’s agricultural contribution
- BKS says women undertake 60–80% of tasks including sowing, harvesting, weed control and animal husbandry
- Main topics
- Natural and organic farming, seed conservation, animal husbandry, employment generation and food processing
- Price proposals
- Farmers should receive the maximum retail price, with a proposed 10–15-day cooling-off period during sharp crop-price increases
Quotes
Mohini Mohan Mishra
BKS national general secretary
“Women have a major participation in farming, animal husbandry and fisheries, but when policy decisions are taken, their participation is not visible.”
theprint.in
rediff.com
“We are asking the government to give farmers a cooling-off period so that they can sell their produce. After that, the market can be controlled.”
rediff.com
Sources
Related news
Women Urged to Advance Organic Farming and Rural Enterprise
Farmers Begin Weeklong Chandigarh Protest Over Crop MSP
Centre Engages Farmer Unions Ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections
Punjab Farmers Begin Week-Long Protest Over Trade Deal, Reforms
Seed Industry Urges India to Approve Gene Editing
Farmers Rally With 200 Tractors Against Crop Surveys
Madhya Pradesh Farmers Rally for GST Relief, Better Crop Prices
Viral Disease Devastates Chilli Crops, Farmers Clear Fields in Barwani
