Agricultural technology management agency

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Its inception, Mechanism of action, Stakeholders, Constraints, Role, and Responsibilities.

1. ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) Concepts, Roles and Functions Ashok Baindha PhD Scholar Dept. of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, PGIVER, Jaipur 1

2. Content: National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP ) Components of NATP Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD) Introduction of ATMA Why ATMA Model ? Key Concepts behind ATMA Aim of ATMA Roles and Responsibilities Features of ATMA Organizational Structure at Various Level Inter Departmental Working Group (IDWG) 2

3. Cont … State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETI) ATMA Governing Board ( GB) ATMA Management Committee (MC) Block Technology Team (BTT ) Farmers Advisory Committees at Block, District and State Level Farm Information and Advisory Centers (FIAC ) Project Investments Cafeteria of Activities Success Stories of ATMA Some specific problems faced by ATMA at field level 3

4. National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) Launched by ICAR on 30 June, 1998 with the support of World Bank to strengthen and complement the existing resources and to argument the output of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) Objectives: 1. To accelerate the flow of technology from research, and extension to farmer. 2. Improve the dissemination of location specific and sustainability enhancing technologies. 3. Decentralize technical and decision making authority to the district level. 4. Create a more effective and financially sustainable public extension system. 5. Step up the privatization of certain technology transfer activities. Salient Features: Pilot Testing new institutional arrangement for technology dissemination at the district level and below through establishment of district ATMA Moving towards integrated extension delivery Bottom up planning procedures for setting the Research-Extension agendas Addressing gender concern in agriculture and Increasing use of information technology for effective dissemination. 4

5. Components of NATP 5

6. 'Innovations in Technology Dissemination' 6

7. Number of pilot states:7 Total n o. of districts at 4 per state: 28 7

8. Introduction ATMA is an autonomous organization registered under the “Societies Registration Act of 1860” responsible for technology dissemination activities at the district level. ATMA model was pilot-tested ( 28 Districts in 7 States) through the Innovations for Technology Dissemination (ITD) component of a World Bank-funded, National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) that became effective in1998 and concluded in June 2005 This successful experiment served as a basis to launch the Scheme “ Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms ” in the year 2005-06. It is currently operational in 640 districts and 3 Union Territories . Strengthen the existing extension system. A focal point for integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralizing day-to-day management of the public Agricultural Technology System (ATS) 8

9. Why ATMA Model? Multiplicity of Technology Transfer Systems Narrow Focus of the Agricultural Extension System Lack of Farmer Focus and Feedback Inadequate Technical Capacity within the Extension System Need for Intensifying Farmer Training Weak Research-Extension Linkages Poor communications capacity Inadequate operating resources and financial sustainability 9

10. K ey C oncepts behind ATMA To Decentralize Decision–Making to the district level through the creation of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) To increase farmer input into programme planning and resource allocation, especially at the block level, and to increase accountability to stakeholders T o increase programme coordination and integration, so that the programme thrusts such as Farming System Innovations, Farmer Organizations, Technology gaps and Natural Resource Management can be more effectively and efficiently implemented. 10

11. Aim of ATMA a) Increase the quality and type of technologies being disseminated by the extension system, with an emphasis on: Location-specific recommendations for economically important commodities and production systems; Diversification and intensification of different farming systems that would increase farm productivity and household incomes, especially for resource poor and disadvantaged farmers b ) Enable the R-E system to become more demand-driven and responsible to solving farmers' problems; c) Strengthen research-extension-farmer (R-E-F) linkages , especially feedback; d) Increase the financial sustainability of the public extension system; 11

12. Cont… e) Move toward shared ownership of the agricultural technology system (ATS) by key stakeholders, including f ) Generate replicable experiences that can be documented, analyzed, and then used in expanding this approach(s) to other districts in future projects; g) And develop new partnerships with the private institutions including NGOs. 12

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14. R-E unit within the project district includes KVKs, ZRSs or sub-stations, and the key line departments including the Department of Agriculture ( DoA ), Animal Husbandry (DAH), Horticulture ( DoH ) and Fisheries ( DoF ) are the constituent members of ATMA. Each R-E unit retains its institutional identity and affiliation but programmes and procedures concerning district wise R-E activities are determined by the Governing Board of the ATMA, to be implemented by its Management Committee. 14

15. Roles and Responsibilities of ATMA ATMA is supported by Governing Board (GB) and Management Committee (MC). The Governing Board is a policy making body and provide guidance as well as review the progress and functioning of the ATMA. The Management Committee is responsible for planning and executing the day-to-day activities of ATMA. 15

16. Features of ATMA Support for specialists and functionaries at State, District and Block Level Innovative support through a ‘Farmer Friend’ at Village Level @ 1 Farmer Friend (FF) per two villages Farmers Advisory Committees at State, District and Block levels Farm Schools in the field of outstanding farmers being promoted at Block/ Gram Panchayat level by integrating the Progressive farmers into Agricultural Extension System (AES) (3-5 Farm Schools/ block). Farmer-to-farmer extension support at the village level to be promoted through Farmers’ Group. Farmers’ Awards at Block, District and State levels. Exposure visit/tour to another d istrict, state and nation. 16

17. Organizational Structure at Various Level 17

18. Inter Departmental Working Group (IDWG) 01 Agriculture Production Commissioner/ Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Chairman 02 Secretary (Finance) Member 03 Secretary (Agriculture) Member 04 Secretary (Horticulture) Member 05 Secretary (Animal Husbandry) Member 06 Secretary (Rural Development) Member 07 Secretary (Fisheries) Member 08 Secretary (Soil Conservation) Member 09 Secretary (Women & Child Development) Member 10 Secretaries of related Departments Member 11 Vice Chancellor(s) of SAU(s) Member 12 Director(s) of ICAR Institutes in the State Member 13 NABARD Representative at the State level Member 14 Director, Doordarshan Member 15 Director, All India Radio Member 16 Director (SAMETI) Member 17 Two Progressive Farmer (preferably 1 male and 1 female Member 18 Commissioner/Director (Agri.)/State Nodal Officer Member 18

19. Key functions of IDWG To consider and recommend State Extension Work Plan for its approval by State Level Sanctioning Committee headed by Chief Secretary/ Addl. Chief Secretary or Technical Committee in DAC. Support and monitor the functioning of State Nodal Cell including timely preparation for necessary approvals and its subsequent execution. Provide a mechanism for interactions with the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and amongst various Departments within the State including Agricultural Research system. To internalize Innovative concepts and institutional arrangements successfully demonstrated by the ATMAs for the purpose of up-scaling and replication. 19

20. Cont… To provide guidance on HRD/ Capacity building matters through State level Committee/ Executive Committee of SAMETI. To provide guidance to Chairmen, ATMA Governing Board for day to day execution of ATMA activities. To provide guidance for convergence mechanism for all Farmer centric schemes. To deal with any other policy issue related to implementation of the project, which emerges from time to time. 20

21. State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETI) Key functions of SAMETI Provide capacity building support in Extension Management related areas to the extension functionaries from public, private and non-governmental sectors. Provide consultancy in the areas like project planning, appraisal, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, etc. Develop and promote application of management tools for improving the effectiveness of Agricultural Extension services. Organize need based training programmes for middle level extension functionaries. Develop modules on Management, Communication, Participatory Methodologies etc, as a sequel to the feedback from training programmes. Organize Annual Workshop involving all the agricultural related training Institutes in the State to achieve complementarity in training and capacity building for functionaries of agriculture and allied departments. 21

22. ATMA Personnel The ATMA staffs includes: Project Director, A Deputy Project Director (DPD), An Accountant, A Computer Operator, A Secretary-cum-Stenographer, A Peon-cum-Watchman. 22

23. ATMA Governing Board (GB) 01 District Magistrate / Collector Chairman 02 Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Development Officer (CDO) Vice-Chairman 03 District Head of Agriculture Department Deputy Chairman 04 Representative of Zila Panchayat / Zila Parishad Member 05 Joint Director / Deputy Director (Agri.) Member 06 Joint Director / Deputy Director (Hort.) Member 07 Joint Director / Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry/Fishery/Sericulture) Member 08 A representative from Zonal Research Station (ZRS) Member 09 Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Member 10 One Farmer representative (nominated from DFAC) Member 11 One Livestock Producer ( nominated from DFAC) Member 12 One Horticulture Farmer ( nominated from DFAC) Member 13 Representative of Women Food Security Group Member 14 Representative of FIG/CIG Member 15 One SC / ST farmer representative ( nominated from DFAC) Member 16 A representative of NGO Member 17 Lead Bank Officer of the District Member 18 A representative of District Industrial Center Member 19 Representative of Agriculture Marketing Board Member 20 Representative of input supplying Associations Member 21 A representative of trained input dealers who is also providing extension services Member 22 One Fisheries / Sericulture representative Member 23 A DRDA Representative Member 24 Project Director ATMA Member-Secretary-cum- Treasurer (Ex-officio) 23

24. Key functions of ATMA Governing Board Review and approve Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP) and annual action plans that are prepared and submitted by the participating units. Receive and review annual reports presented by the participating units, providing feedback and direction to them as needed, for various research and extension activities being carried out within the district. Receive and allocate project funds to carry out priority research, extension and related activities within the district. Foster the organization and development of Farmers‟ Interest Groups (FIGs) and Farmers Organizations (FOs) within the district. Facilitate greater involvement of private sector and firms and organizations in providing inputs, technical support, agro-processing and marketing services to farmers. Encourage agriculture lending institutions to increase the availability of capital to resource poor and marginal farmers, especially SC, ST and women farmers. Encourage each line department, plus the KVK and ZRS, to establish farmer advisory committees to provide feedback and input for their respective Research - Extension Programmes. 24

25. Cont… Enter into contracts and agreements as appropriate to promote and support agricultural development activities within the district. Identify other sources of financial support that would help in ensuring the financial sustainability of the ATMA and its participating units. Converge human and financial resources available for extension under different schemes and programmes of DAC. Establish revolving funds / accounts for each participating unit, and encourage each unit to make available technical services, such as artificial insemination or soil testing, on a cost recovery basis moving towards full cost recovery in a phased manner. Arrange for the periodic audit of ATMA‟s financial accounts; and Adopt and amend the rules and by-laws for the ATMA. Hold meetings of ATMA GB every quarter or frequently. Any other functions that support effective functioning of ATMA in the district. 25

26. ATMA Management Committee (MC) 01 District Head of Dept., Agriculture Chairman 02 Project Director of Agriculture Technology Management Agency Co-Chairman 03 District Head of Dept., Horticulture Member 04 District Head of Dept., Animal Husbandry Member 05 District Head of Dept. Fisheries Member 06 District Head of Dept. Sericulture Member 07 Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Member 08 Head, Zonal Research Station Member 09 Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency Member 10 One representative of Farmers‟ Organization promoted by an NGO Member 11 Representative of NGO, if any, involved in agricultural extension Member 12 District level NABARD Officer Member 13 Lead Bank Officer Member 14 A representative of trained input dealers who is also providing extension services Member 15 Two progressive farmers (one of whom should be a woman) ( nominated from DFAC) Member 16 Two Deputy Project Directors ( of which one will be nominated as Member Secretary) Member Secretary 26

27. Key functions of Management Committee (MC) Carry out periodic Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to identify the problems and constraints faced by different socio-economic groups and farmers within the district. Prepare an integrated, Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP) for the district that would specify short and medium term adaptive research as well as technology validation and refinement and extension priorities for the district. Prepare annual District Agriculture Action Plans in consultation with DAC which would be submitted to the ATMA Governing Board for review, possible modification and approval. Maintain appropriate project accounts for audit purposes. Coordinate the execution of these annual action plans through participant i.e. line departments, ZRSs, KVKs, NGOs, FIGs / FOs and allied institutions, including private sector firms. 27

28. Cont… Establish coordinating mechanisms at the Block level, such as Farm Information & Advisory Centres (FIACs) that would integrate extension and technology transfer activities at the block and village levels. Provide periodic performance reports as required by DAC to the Governing Board outlining the various targets and achievements. ATMA Management Committee shall meet once in a month to review the progress in various blocks and submit the report to State Nodal Cell/ DAC. 28

29. Block Technology Team (BTT) An Inter Departmental Team of Agriculture and Line Departments operating at block level. 01 Block Development Officer (BDO) Chairman 02 Block level officers of Agriculture Member 03 Block level officers of Horticulture Member 04 Block level officers of Animal Husbandry Member 05 Block level officers of Fisheries Member 06 Block level officers of Plant Protection Member 07 Block level officers of Soil Conservation Member 08 Block level officers of Extension Member 09 Block level officers of Sericulture Member 10 Block level officers of Corporative Member 11 Block level officers of Marketing Member 12 Block Technology Manager Member Secretary Senior most official at the Block level shall head the Block Technology Team as BTT Convener. 29

30. Key functions of Block Technology Team (BTT) Operationalize the SREP in each block and move towards single window extension system. Help district core team in up gradation of SREP. Prepare Block Action Plan detailing extension activities to be undertaken. Coordinate the implementation of extension programmes detailed in the Block Action Plan. Facilitate formation of FIGs/ Women Food Security Groups/ FOs at the block level and below. Support ATMA Management Committee in discharging its function by providing inputs related to the Block. Facilitate planning and implementation of Farm Schools in all major sectors in the Block. The Block Technology Team (BTT) shall meet every month to review the progress and report the same to ATMA Management Committee. 30

31. FARMERS ADVISORY COMMITTEES AT BLOCK, DISTRICT, AND STATE LEVEL S. No. Member (Block FARMERS ADVISORY COMMITTEES) Occupation 01 Farmers (2) Agriculture 02 Farm Women (2) Agriculture 03 Farmers (2) Horticulture 04 Farm Women (2) Horticulture 05 Farmers (2) Live Stock Producers 06 Farm Women (2) Live Stock Producers 07 Farm Women (2) Mahila Mandal 08 Farmers (2) Yuvak Mandal 09 Farmers (2) Input Dealers 10 Farmers (2) Farmer Groups 11 Farmers (2) BDC Members (Block Dev. Council) Chairman shall be elected out of the above members on rotation basis BTM shall also act as Member Secretary to BFAC 31

32. Cont… District Farmers’ Advisory Committee shall comprise not more than 25 farmers (numbers will thus need to be restricted depending on number of blocks in the District): ( i ) 1 to 2 farmers each nominated by the BFAC as per consensus or majority (ii) Selected District level award winning farmers (iii) PD (ATMA) shall act as Chairman of DFAC State Farmers’ Advisory Committee shall comprise not more than 30 farmers (numbers will thus need to be restricted depending on number of districts in the State): ( i ) 1 to 2 farmers each nominated by the DFAC (ii) Selected State level award winning farmers (iii) SNO shall act as Chairman SFAC 32

33. Key functions of Farmers Advisory Committees: Act as an agency for providing farmers’ feedback and inputs for preparation/ compilation of Action Plans and for prioritization of activities as follows: ( i ) BFAC to BTT (ii) DFAC to ATMA GB and MC (through nominated representatives) (iii) SFAC to SAMETI for training related needs and SNC for finalization of SEWP (through nominated representatives) FACs shall meet as per the following periodicities: ( i ) BFAC: Once in a month during the season and quarterly in lean season. (ii) DFAC: Quarterly and preferably before ATMA MC. (iii) SFAC: Quarterly 33

34. Farm Information and Advisory Centers (FIAC) Farm Information and Advisory Centers (FIAC) at block level manage the key extension programmes within the block and are considered as the extension planning and operational arm of ATMA at Block level. The FIAC team prepares Block Action Plans (BAPs) with detailed extension activities to be undertaken. This plan is approved by the FAC before being forwarded to the ATMA Management Committee (AMC) for ensuring that these plans are technically and administratively feasible, and consistent with the SREP, which then forwards it to Governing Board (GB) for approval. 34

35. Project Investments Civil Works Equipment Computer and related equipment Training and communications equipment Diagnostic equipment On-farm research and demonstration equipment Tentative equipment Vehicles Training Technical training for KVK, ZRS, and SMS personnel Management Training Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and District Planning Procedures PRA and Planning Procedures Organising Farmers Technical Assistance (TA) Planning Institutional and Operational Reforms Developing Models and Materials for Organising Farmer- Groups: Organising farmers within Districts Monitoring and Evaluation Operational Expenses On-farm research costs Extension demonstration costs Travel budget for research and extension personnel units Communications Expenses 35

36. Cafeteria of Activities 36

37. Success Stories of ATMA 37

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42. Some specific problems faced by ATMA at field level Operationalization of BTT is a major problem The BDO (Superior officer to BTT Convenor ) did not come under the purview of ATMA and he had little understanding of the concept leading to weak performance in some blocks. Convergence of various Central and State sponsored programmes with its activities is difficult in absence of clear cut policy directives from the state government. ATMA GB is required to meet regularly on quarterly basis, but meetings of Governing Board are not regular in the districts. Attendance in GB meetings is also an issue, especially with respect to official members. IDWG is not very effective in providing leadership to the ATMA activities . The role of SAMETI in a project state was to function as mini-MANAGE. However in a few cases it did not properly cater to the HRD needs of the ATMAs. Most positions in SAMETI are vacant for varying periods. In case of the State Nodal Officer appointed to coordinate between ATMA & State Govt., much needs to be done. 42

43. ATMA: 43

44. Thank you 44

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