Impact of NICRA Interventions on Psycho-Social Dimensions of Women Empowerment in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India

Abstract

In the face of escalating climate variability, empowering rural women through adaptive agricultural practices is vital for building resilient farming communities. The present study, conducted in 2024 -May, 2025, assessed the impact of climate-resilient agricultural interventions under the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project on women's empowerment in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. The primary objective was to evaluate how NICRA initiatives influenced Psycho-Social indicators of empowerment among rural women. A total of 120 respondents from four NICRA villages were selected using proportionate random sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results revealed high levels of scientific orientation (mean score 3.35), economic motivation (3.28), and risk orientation (3.32) among respondents, while social participation showed the lowest mean (0.78) and highest variability (111.54%). Significant positive correlations were found between empowerment and variables such as scientific orientation, cognitive development, and psychomotor development. The findings suggest that NICRA interventions enhanced individual competencies but highlighted a gap in collective and institutional engagement. The study concluded that while NICRA successfully fostered individual empowerment traits essential for climate adaptation, targeted efforts in group mobilization and institutional support are critical for achieving holistic and sustainable women's empowerment in climate-vulnerable regions.