AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

ATMA is a registered society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable development in the district by integrating research-extension activities and decentralizing day to day management of Public Agricultural Technology System.

STRATEGY

The objectives of the scheme shall be met through strengthened institutional arrangements and dedicated manpower at State, District, Block & Village level through the institutional mechanism as detailed below.

State Level:

  • The State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) set up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is the apex body to approve State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) which will form a part of the State Agriculture Plan (SAP).

  • The SLSC will be supported by the Inter Departmental Working Group (IDWG). IDWG is responsible for day-to-day coordination and management of the Scheme activities within the State.

  • The State Nodal Cell (SNC) consisting of the State Nodal Officer and the State Coordinator (along with supporting staff) will ensure timely receipt of District Agriculture Action Plans (DAAPs), formulation of State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) duly incorporating Farmers' feedback obtained through State Farmer Advisory Committee and its approval by the SLSC. The SNC will then convey the approval and monitor implementation of these work plans by SAMETIs and ATMAs. The SAMETIs will draw-up and execute an Annual Training Calendar for capacity building of the Extension functionaries in the State. While doing so, the SAMETI will check duplication and overlapping of training content, training schedule as well as trainees.

District Level:

ATMA is an autonomous institution set up at district level to ensure delivery of extension services to farmers. ATMA Governing Board is the apex body of ATMA which provides overall policy direction. ATMA GB will be assisted by the District ATMA Cell comprising PD ATMA, Dy. PDs and Staff in the discharge of its functions. ATMA Management Committee is the executive body looking after implementation of the scheme. District Farmers Advisory Committee is a body to provide farmer's feedback for district level planning and implementation. With dedicated staff provided for the ATMA, it will continue to be the district level nodal agency responsible for overall management of agriculture extension system within the district, including preparation of Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP).

Block Level:

At the Block level, two bodies viz. Block Technology Team (BTT) (a team comprising officers of agriculture and all line departments within the block) and Block Farmers Advisory Committee (BFAC) (a group exclusively consisting of farmers of the block) shall continue to function jointly (with the latter providing farmers' feedback and input). BFACs shall represent Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) / FOs existing within the block on rotation basis to advise the arr. The Block ATMA Cell consisting of these two bodies, Block Technology Manager and Subject Matter Specialists will provide extension support within the Block, through preparation and execution of Block Action Plans (BAPs).

Village Level:

  • The Farmer Friend (FF) will serve as a vital link between extension system and farmers at village level (one for every two villages). The FF will be available in the village to advise on agriculture and allied activities. The FF will mobilize farmers' groups and facilitate dissemination of information to such groups, individual farmers and farm women directly through one to one interaction individually or in groups and also by accessing information / services on behalf of farmers as per need through Common Service Centres (CSC) / Kisan Call Centres (KCC).

  • Wherever available under their respective Schemes, Agri- entrepreneurs will supplement the efforts of extension functionaries by making quality inputs available to the farmers and by providing them critical technical advice.
  • Farm Schools will serve as a mechanism for farmer-farmer extension at 3 to 5 focal points in every Block.