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ATMA ( AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY )
CONCEPT AND OPERATION OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ATMA)
SET UP UNDER INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION (ITD) COMPONENT
OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECT (NATP)
In order to address the key constraints faced by extension system in
the country with respect to reducing capacity of public extension services,
its lack of decentralized and demand driven focus, the Innovations in
Technology Dissemination component of National Agricultural Technology
Project (NATP) was implemented in seven States in the country namely,
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra
and Punjab through four project districts in each State. This component
aimed at pilot testing new institutional arrangements for technology
dissemination at district level and below in order to move towards an
integrated extension delivery. The project process involved adopting
bottom up planning procedures for setting the research and extension
agency in order to make the technology dissemination farmer driven and
farmer accountable. The extension delivery was oriented towards group
approach catering to the location specific requirement of the farmers.
Gender concerns have been given adequate emphasis under the project.
To operationalize the above reform initiatives under ITD - NATP an Agricultural
Technology Management Agency (ATMA) has been established in each district
as an autonomous institution providing flexible working environment involving
all the stakeholders in project planning and implementation. Diagrammatic
depiction of composition and processes of ATMA are given at Annexure-I.
The ATMA is a unique district level institution, which caters to activities
in agriculture and allied departments adopting a Farming System Approach.
It can receive funds directly (Government of India/States, Membership
fees, beneficiaries contribution etc). Local research and extension priorities
are set through Strategic Research and Extension Plans (SREPs) which
are developed by using participatory methodologies such as Participatory
Rural Appraisal (PRA). ATMA is be supported by a Governing Board (GB)
and a Management Committee (MC). The programmers and procedures concerning
district wise R-E activities are determined by ATMA, GB and implemented
by its MC (Annexure-II).
In order to manage programme implementation at block level and below, ATMA has
established a Farm Information and Advisory Centre (FIAC) at each block in the
district. In effect the FIACs acts as extension planning and operational arm
of ATMA (Annexure-III). These are supported by two groups; one, a group of technical
officers at block derived from different functional areas termed as Block Technology
Team (BTT), whereas, the others is a Farmers Advisory Committee (FAC) which is
a body exclusively of farmers. While BTT develops the Block Action Plans (BAPs)
in light of the SREP and is responsible for its implementation, the FAC plays
a more proactive role by scrutinizing, improving and approving BAPs, before these
are referred to the ATMA GB for its final approval.
Commodity oriented Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) are promoted at block/village
level to make the technology generation/dissemination farmer driven and farmer
accountable. These Village level FIGs are ultimately federated at block/district
level and represented in FACs and GB. In order to address the extension needs
of these groups, ATMA has established close linkages with various players operating
at cutting edge level viz. public, private, NGOs, Para extension workers, input
dealers, etc. (Annexure-I).
In order to provide needed HRD support in innovative areas of extension delivery
a State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) has
been established either by strengthening one of the existing apex training institute
in the state or by creating a new SAMETI in a State Agricultural University (SAU)
(Annexure-IV).
Project activities, at state level are closely monitored by an Inter Departmental
Working Group (IDWG) functioning under Chairmanship of APC or Secretary (Agriculture)
of the state. A Project Implementation Cell (PIC) created at the State Headquarter
level provides support to the IDWG (Annexure-V).
Annexure - I
What is ATMA ?
ATMA is a society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for
sustainable agriculture development in the district. It is a focal point for
integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralizing day-to- day
management of the public Agricultural Technology System (ATS). It is a registered
society responsible for technology dissemination at the district level. As a
society, it would be able to receive and expand funds, entering into contracts
and agreements and maintaining revolving accounts that can be used to collect
fees and thereby recovering operating cost.
Why ATMA ?
The ATMA at district level would be increasingly responsible for all technology
dissemination activities at the district level. It would have linkage with all
the line departments, research organization, non-governmental organizations and
agencies associated with agricultural development in the district. Research and
Extension units with in the project district such as ZRS or substations, KVK
and the key line departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture and
Fisheries, Forestry etc. would become constituent members of ATMA. Each Research-Extension
(R-E) unit would retain its institutional identity and affiliation but programme
and procedures concerning district-wise R-E activities would be determined by
ATMA Governing Board (GB) to be implemented by its Management Committee (AMC)