Kudumbashree brought in NABARD’s concept of joint liability groups (JLGs) in collective farming in 2009. This resulted in making NABARD’s scheme of interest subsidy available to groups engaged in collective farming. The step reduced the interest rate of farm loans effectively to 2%, as NABARD provided 5% interest subsidy on loans taken by JLGs at 7% interest rate.

The process starts with the Kudumbashree community network identifying and assessing cultivable fallow land in the area of the local body. Once the land is identified JLGs are to be formed of four to ten NHG members. The members are from the same NHG or from different NHGs. Each JLG is controlled by the ADS to which the members belong. If JLG membership is from two ADSs, then the ADS to which the maximum membership belongs controls that JLG.

The JLG has to select its president and secretary and apply for registration to ADS on the prescribed format. The membership of JLG members in NHGs has to be testified by the president or secretary of respective NHG. The NHG also has to endorse that the JLG members are not part of multiple JLGs.

There is periodic monitoring by ADS and CDS office bearers. There is monthly progress reporting from JLG secretary to the CDS through ADS. CDS further reports to the District Mission Coordinator of Kudumbashree. The State mission gets reports from the District Missions.

Area and crops have to be verified by ADS president / secretary with the support NHGs and be reported to CDS. NREGS subcommittee and respective ADS also verify the facts at GP level. CDS chairperson and member secretary verify and endorse the subcommittee report.

The FFCs (Farmers’ Facilitation Centres) established under MKSP now play role in supporting and monitoring farming activities.

MKSP (Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana) launched in Kerala in 2011 as a sub component of NRLM (Nation Rural Livelihood Mission) with the objectives of increasing the visibility of women in agriculture, reducing drudgery and providing livelihood opportunities by adopting sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. Kudumbashree, the programme implementing agency of NRLM, has been in the process of implementing the scheme through JLGs.

“We had organised close to 100 sub-district level workshops of farmers”, said Sarada Muraleedharan. “These workshops were forums to share farming practices, knowledge, and innovations”

Jairam Ramesh, the then Minister for Rural Development, Government of India attended the State level panel discussion on MKSP held at Nadathara panchayat in Thrissur district.

Several steps have been initiated under MKSP for promoting lease land farming. Thirty thousand JLGs involved in collective farming have already been selected for skill development under MKSP. Ten thousand master farmers have also been identified to extend support to all JLGs in the GPs.

Skill development include training on harvesting threshing and winnowing, special training programme in repairing of machines, training for bio fertilisation and bio pesticides, and formation of groups of mobile mechanics.

Master farmers are available at Farmers Facilitation Centres (FFC) attached to CDS for the women farmers to access. The FFCs act as a link between JLGs and agricultural department and also pool information on supportive schemes implemented by other government agencies. FFCs are expected to provide support to the farmers at their door steps.

All master farmers are registered with FFCs. The CDS chairperson acts as the chairperson of FFC working committee. The CDS subcommittee convenor who is in charge of JLGs acts as the vice chairperson. The member secretary of CDS is the convenor of FFC working committee. One master farmer is joint convenor and others are members. 

Leased Land Farming: Institutional Roles

By January 2016, a total of 54,167 JLGs have been formed with 2,55,509 members for collective farming initiative. A total of 9085 master farmers have been identified. Farmer Facilitation Centres (FFCs) have been set up in 962 CDSs. The JLGs together had availed Rs 194.53 crore as loan through bank linkage.

Formation of JLGs across Districts (Status as in January 2016)

By January 2016, these groups had cultivated a total of 45,108 hectares of land across the 14 districts of the State with Ernakulam topping the list with cultivation in 7847 hectares.

Cultivation by JLGs (Status as in January 2016)

Paddy has been cultivated in 13,300 ha, banana in 11,707 ha, vegetables in 9268 ha, and tuber crops in 8364 ha.