Women have always played an important role in agriculture, which is the backbone of rural India. In Maharashtra, lakhs of women work daily in the fields — sowing seeds, harvesting crops, looking after livestock and managing households at the same time.
Despite their knowledge and hard work, women farmers often receive less recognition, fewer opportunities and limited financial support.
To bridge this gap and empower women in agriculture, the Government of Maharashtra launched the Mahila Kisan Yojana. The scheme aims to support women farmers through training, financial assistance, modern farming techniques, and livelihood opportunities.
This guide provides complete information on the Mahila Kisan Yojana — objectives, benefits, eligibility, scope, support offered, impact, challenges and future prospects.
🌟 What is the Mahila Kisan Yojana?
The Mahila Kisan Yojana is a government programme designed to empower women farmers in Maharashtra by improving their productivity, income, skills and decision-making power.
The scheme recognises women not just as agricultural labourers, but as farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.
The scheme aims to strengthen:
- Agricultural skills
- Access to farming resources and technology
- Market opportunities
- Financial independence
- Leadership and community participation
Through this programme, women farmers receive training, government support to purchase modern agricultural tools, and opportunities to join Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). They can also take up allied agri-sectors such as dairy farming, poultry farming, goat rearing, organic farming and processing of agricultural products.
🎯 Goals of the Mahila Kisan Yojana
The scheme supports inclusive and gender-balanced growth in the agriculture sector. Its main goals include:
- Empower women farmers socially and economically
- Provide skill development and modern agricultural training
- Increase income through crop diversification and productivity improvement
- Support women farmers to start agri-based micro-enterprises
- Encourage participation in Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Reduce rural migration and generate employment within villages
- Promote organic farming, natural farming and eco-friendly agricultural practices
The long-term vision of the government is to create a strong network of independent and skilled women farmers across Maharashtra.
👩🌾 Who Is a “Mahila Kisan”?
A Mahila Kisan refers to any rural woman actively involved in agriculture and related activities, such as:
- Crop cultivation and field work
- Soil preparation, seed sowing and irrigation
- Harvesting, storage and post-harvest operations
- Dairy, poultry, goat rearing and livestock management
- Food processing and value addition
Women qualifying as Mahila Kisan may include:
- Women from farming households
- SHG members engaged in agricultural activities
- Tenant farmers
- Landless agricultural women workers
- Women working in allied agricultural sectors
The scheme benefits both women who run farms independently and those who contribute to agriculture within their families.
📌 Main Components of the Scheme
The Mahila Kisan Yojana includes multiple components to support women farmers holistically.
1️⃣ Skill Training and Capacity Building
Women receive practical and theoretical training in:
- Modern agriculture techniques
- Seed treatment and soil health management
- Drip irrigation and water-saving methods
- Pest and disease management
- Mixed cropping and crop planning
- Organic and natural farming
2️⃣ Financial Support and Subsidies
The scheme offers:
- Subsidy on agricultural tools and machinery
- Assistance for irrigation systems (drip/sprinkler)
- Support for seeds and fertilizers
- Support for vermicompost pits, cow-based fertilizers and bio-inputs
3️⃣ Livelihood and Income Opportunities
Women are encouraged to take up multiple agriculture-based income sources, such as:
- Dairy farming
- Poultry and goat rearing
- Mushroom production
- Nursery and horticulture
- Food processing and value addition
4️⃣ Promotion of SHGs and Farmer Producer Companies
The scheme promotes:
- Collective farming and group entrepreneurship
- Women-led FPCs to sell products directly in the market
- Increased bargaining power and reduced dependence on middlemen
5️⃣ Branding and Market Linkages
Women get support for:
- Selling agricultural products directly in the market
- Participating in agricultural exhibitions
- Branding organic produce
- Selling through e-commerce platforms and farmer markets
✔ Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the scheme, the applicant must:
- Be a woman resident of Maharashtra
- Be actively involved in agriculture or allied activities
- Be a farmer or member of a farming household
- Preferably belong to a Self-Help Group (not mandatory in all cases)
Priority is given to:
- Women from rural and tribal areas
- Small and marginal farmers
- Women from economically weaker backgrounds
📑 Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Address proof / Domicile certificate
- Bank passbook
- Agricultural land records (if applicable)
- SHG membership card (if applicable)
- Passport-size photographs
Documents required may vary based on the activity.
📝 How to Apply
Women can apply for the scheme through multiple channels:
📌 Through Gram Panchayat / Krishi Sahayak
- Visit the Gram Panchayat office or Taluka Agriculture Office
- Collect and fill the application form
- Attach the required documents
📌 Through Self-Help Group / Farmer Producer Company
SHG coordinators help their members to register and apply for benefits.
📌 Online Application
(Only in districts where online applications are open)
Visit the Agriculture Department portal when application intake begins.
After submission, applications are reviewed and beneficiaries are informed about training or subsidy approval.
🌿 Benefits of the Mahila Kisan Yojana
The scheme delivers long-term benefits for women, families and the agriculture sector:
- Higher crop yield and improved farm productivity
- Increased income and reduced financial dependence
- More rural employment opportunities
- Better entrepreneurship options in agriculture
- Improved self-confidence and decision-making power
- Increased support for organic and sustainable farming
🌍 Social Impact of the Scheme
Mahila Kisan Yojana is transforming rural Maharashtra in many meaningful ways:
🔹 Economic Empowerment
Women earn independently and contribute to household financial stability.
🔹 Strengthening Rural Communities
SHGs and FPCs created under the scheme build teamwork, group discipline and confidence.
🔹 Gender Equality
Women are recognised as farmers and community leaders, not just helpers.
🔹 Reduced Migration
Improved income sources reduce migration to cities for survival.
🔹 Food Security
Better agricultural practices lead to stable and sustainable food production.
⚠ Challenges in Implementation
Despite strong progress, some challenges remain:
- Limited exposure to tools and technology in rural areas
- Difficulty in accessing markets in remote villages
- Time constraints due to household workload
- Lack of awareness about subsidy support
- Dependence on middlemen in some regions
Improved awareness, SHG coordination and market support can help overcome these challenges.
🌱 Real Success Stories
Across Maharashtra, many women farmers have transformed their lives through the scheme. Examples include:
- SHG members setting up dairy, poultry and goat farming units
- Women practising organic farming and selling vegetables at premium rates
- FPCs led by women exporting grains, oilseeds and processed goods
- Women producing pickles, papad, spices and other products from farm produce
These achievements inspire more participation and show the true potential of women-led agriculture.
🔮 The Future of Mahila Kisan Yojana
As agriculture becomes more modern and market-driven, women’s participation will become more crucial.
The scheme has the potential to:
- Build women-led agriculture start-ups
- Create strong food processing and rural agri-industries
- Train women in digital and smart farming
- Position Maharashtra as a leader in women-powered agriculture
With consistent support, Mahila Kisan Yojana can become a model for the entire country.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The Mahila Kisan Yojana (Maharashtra) is a powerful initiative that recognises and empowers women farmers. By providing training, financial assistance, market linkages and employment opportunities, the programme strengthens both the financial independence of women and the agricultural economy of the state.
Women farmers in Maharashtra are now emerging as leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.
The scheme gives them not only income, but also dignity, confidence and a brighter future.
Empowering women in agriculture means empowering families, villages and the entire nation — and the Mahila Kisan Yojana is a shining example of this vision.