The Act allows the State to make policies, programmes and schemes for women farmers and their groups. The Act does not grant any benefit by itself.
Areas the Act covers (Section 8(3))
- Agricultural subsidies
- Distribution of seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs
- Agricultural credit, crop insurance and extension services
- Facilitation of market access, transport, storage and procurement of produce
- Special assistance programmes, skill development and targeted support for single women farmers
- Any other matter the State determines
Credit (Section 9)
A certificate holder is entitled to suitable forms of credit under the State’s credit policies, programmes and schemes, as notified from time to time.
Conditions still apply
Under Section 8(2), entitlements are subject to the conditions specified in each notified policy, programme or scheme. Eligibility for individual schemes may vary. Confirm each scheme’s conditions in its official notification.
Institutions created by the Act
The Act creates the Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers (Section 11), the Women Farmers Empowerment Council (Section 12), the State Monitoring Committee (Section 13) and the Women Farmers Empowerment Cell (Section 14). These bodies support the Act’s purposes. They do not replace scheme-level eligibility rules.