Programme design
The Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (KSCP), launched jointly by MoA&FW and MoRD on 19 June 2024, trains women SHG members from DAY-NRLM into certified agricultural paraextension workers. The 56-day curriculum, delivered through MANAGE, KVKs and State Agricultural Universities, covers crop production, IPM, soil testing, livestock care, natural farming, and FPO management.
The Krishi Sakhi role
- First-point contact for farmers in 2-3 surrounding villages.
- Conducts demonstrations, distributes inputs, collects soil samples for SHC.
- Provides services to NMNF clusters (BRC bio-input preparation, jeevamrit) — earning ₹60,000-80,000/year in fees.
- Mediates with KVK / ATMA / Farmer Friend network on behalf of farmers.
- Lakhpati Didi qualifier: income ≥ ₹1 lakh/year unlocks additional convergence support.
Progress (mid-2025)
- Phase-I in 12 states: GJ, TN, UP, AP, KA, MH, MP, OD, RJ, JH, BR, WB.
- Target: 70,000 Krishi Sakhis.
- 34,000 certified by mid-2025.
- >90,000 trained (some still completing certification).
How to enrol — step by step
- Confirm membership in an active DAY-NRLM Self Help Group; minimum 18-month SHG history with clean repayment grade.
- Express interest with the Cluster Level Federation (CLF); nominations are made to the District NRLM cell and forwarded to the State Mission.
- State NRLM, in coordination with State Agriculture Department, schedules a training cohort of 30 — 40 candidates at an empanelled KVK, SAU or MANAGE satellite centre.
- Complete the 56-day curriculum covering crop production, IPM, soil testing, livestock care, natural farming and FPO management — mix of theory and field practicum.
- Sit for the certification examination — practical field assessment plus written theory; pass certificate is issued by MANAGE.
- Start service as a paraextension worker in 2 — 3 surrounding villages; earnings come from fee-based services (soil sampling, NMNF inputs, demo organisation) plus convergence honoraria.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- 19 June 2024: KSCP launched jointly by MoA&FW and MoRD; 70,000 Krishi Sakhi target announced under Lakhpati Didi.
- November 2024: First 10,000 certifications crossed; service deployment in NMNF clusters formalised.
- March 2025: NMNF-Krishi Sakhi convergence tightened — 30,000 Krishi Sakhis targeted as NMNF CRPs across the 15,000 GP clusters.
- August 2025: Certification crossed 34,000; cumulative trained crossed 90,000.
- 2025-26: Honorarium structure standardised; Krishi Sakhi service-fee guidelines issued by MoA&FW to ensure ₹60,000 — 80,000/ year earning baseline.
Common reasons enrolment or earnings stall
- SHG not active/graded: SHGs below A-grade lose nomination priority; remediate by upgrading SHG repayment and savings discipline.
- Training drop-off: 56 days is intensive; women with childcare/migration burdens need backup support from SHG/CLF.
- Certification examination failure: theory + practical assessment is rigorous; SHG arranges re-examination through CLF.
- No deployment opportunity: Krishi Sakhis in areas without NMNF clusters or active KVK demos have limited fee income; FPO linkage or inter-village service expansion is the workaround.
- Honorarium delays: state agriculture / NRLM payment cycles vary; CPGRAMS grievance is the escalation route.
Grievance: CLF → District NRLM cell → State Mission Director (DAY-NRLM) → MoRD PMU. Convergence-side grievances on payments through ATMA / KVK route to the District Agriculture Officer.
Coverage and outlay statistics
Per MoA&FW and MoRD data, KSCP Phase-I covers 12 states (Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal). Of the 70,000 target, 34,000 had certified and 90,000+ had been trained by mid-2025. Lakhpati Didi qualifier — income ≥ ₹1 lakh/year — unlocks additional convergence support and recognition. Full mission cycle outlay is funded through the umbrella DAY-NRLM and MoA&FW Extension Division allocations.
How Krishi Sakhi stacks with other schemes
Krishi Sakhi is the women-led paraextension layer. NMNF uses 30,000 Krishi Sakhis as Community Resource Persons across natural-farming clusters. Namo Drone Didi and Krishi Sakhi often share SHG and CLF base — drone-pilot Didis are frequently certified Krishi Sakhis. ATMA extension uses Krishi Sakhis alongside Farmer Friends; PKVY and Soil Health Card sampling tap Krishi Sakhis for village-level execution. KCC, PM-KISAN and PMFBY enrolment guidance is part of the Krishi Sakhi handholding role.
Related
- NMNF (30,000 Krishi Sakhis as NMNF CRPs).
- Namo Drone Didi.
- ATMA.