Krishi Vistar

A. CENTRALLY SPONSORED / STATE PLAN SCHEMES
1. SUPPORT TO STATE EXTENSION PROGRAMMES FOR EXTENSION REFORMS (Centrally Sponsored Scheme):The Scheme ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms (ATMA)’ a component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE) under Krishonnati Yojana is under implementation in 684 districts of 29 states & 3 UTs of the country. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-driven and farmer-accountable extension system through an institutional arrangement for technology dissemination in the form of an Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at district level. Under the scheme grants-in-aid is released to states governments with an objective to support their efforts of revitalization of the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies in different thematic areas to increase agricultural production through extension activities viz. Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and Setting up of Farm Schools. Through these activities, latest agriculture technologies are disseminated to farmers of the country.More

1. 1 The Scheme is implemented through the institutional mechanism set up at State, District, Block and Village level as detailed below:

i. At 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 is supported by the Inter Departmental Working Group (IDWG) which is responsible for day-to-day coordination and management of the Scheme activities within the State. The State Nodal Cell (SNC), consisting of State Nodal officer, State Coordinator, State Gender Coordinator and supporting staff 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 (SFAC) and its approval by the SLSC. The SNC convey the approval and monitor implementation of these work plans by State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs) and ATMAs.
ii. At District level:An autonomous institution KISAN CALL CENTRES:viz. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) set up at district level is responsible to ensure delivery of extension services to farmers. ATMA Governing Board is the apex body of ATMA which provides overall policy direction. ATMA Management Committee is the executive body looking after implementation of the scheme. District Farmers Advisory Committee is a body to provide farmers’ feedback for district level planning and implementation. ATMA is 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).
iii. At Block Level:The Block ATMA Cell consisting of Block Technology Team (BTT) (a team comprising officers of agriculture and other allied departments within the block) and Block Farmers’ Advisory Committee (BFAC) (a group exclusively consisting of selected farmers of the block) prepare the Block Action Plan (BAP) and provide necessary extension support within the Block in its execution.
iv. At village level:The following mechanism is involved in disseminating information:

• The Farmer Friend (FF) serves as a vital link between extension system and farmers at village level (one for every two villages).
• Agri-entrepreneurs, Diploma holders in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI), Input Dealers and extension workers in non-governmental sector supplement the efforts of extension functionaries.
• Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs), Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and Food Security Groups (FSGs) serve as a nodal point for information & technology dissemination among its members.
• Farm Schools set up on the field of progressive/ awardee serve as a mechanism for farmer-to-farmer extension at every Block.

2 Release of funds under ATMA scheme is based on State Extension Work Plans (SEWPs) prepared by the State Governments in consonance with a 5 year perspective Strategic Research & Extension Plan.
3 Allocation of resources for activities related to extension is linked to number of Farm Households and Blocks.
4 At least, 10% of allocation on recurring activities at district level is to be used through non-governmental sector.
5 Innovative Technology Dissemination components such as hand-held device, pico-projectors, kala jathas etc. are being promoted for dissemination of information in a real time basis and also for collection of farm level data.
6 Extension services through mobile telephony have been given a major thrust.
7 Convergence among farmer centric extension activities various Sub-Missions of NMAET and other Missions / Schemes through the institution of ATMA is being promoted. Research & Extension are also moving together in the field as per a joint circular issued by DAC & ICAR.

B. CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEMES
1. MASS MEDIA SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION:Agriculture related programmes are broadcast through 180 Narrow Casting Centres, 18 Regional Centres & 1 National Centre of Doordarshan Kendras and 96 FM Station Radio for 30 minutes, five/ six days a week. The list of Regional Kendras, Narrowcasting centres and FM Radio stations included under the programme. Besides this, a Focused Publicity Campaign was launched on July 5, 2010 to create awareness about the assistance available under various schemes. The campaign at the National level is being implemented by way of short advertisements through Audio & Video Spots of 30 – 60 seconds duration. The spots are Broadcast / Telecast through All India Radio, Doordarshan and Private Channels operating at the National and Regional Level during News, Serials, and Entertainment programmes having maximum viewership.more

Guidelines:

2. ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRI-CLINIC AND AGRI-BUSINESS CENTRES (ACABC):Establishment of the Agri-clinics and Agri-business Centres (ACABC) Scheme was launched in April, 2002 with the following objectives:more

(i) To supplement efforts of public extension by necessarily providing extension and other services to farmers on payment basis or free of cost as per business model of agri-preneur, local needs and affordability of target group of farmers.
(ii) To support agricultural development.
(iii) To create gainful self-employment opportunities to unemployed agricultural graduates, agricultural diploma holders, intermediate in agriculture and biological science graduates with PG in agri-related courses.

Salient features of the scheme:

(i) Two months’ training is imparted to eligible selected candidates through Nodal Training Institutes identified across the country [identified by The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)} under the ACABC scheme. This is followed by one year of hand holding.
(ii) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the implementing agency for disbursement of subsidy and monitoring the credit support to agri-clinics through commercial banks.
(iii) The scheme has a provision of credit support (start up loan) upto Rs.20 lakhs for individual project and Rs.100 lakhs for a group project. Financial assistance is provided through commercial banks (public and private), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Cooperative Banks.
(iv) There is a provision of Credit linked back-ended upfront composite subsidy on the bank loan availed by trained candidates under the Scheme. The subsidy is 44% in respect of women, SC/ST and all categories of candidates from North-Eastern and Hill States and 36% in respect of other categories.
(v) Since inception of the scheme, a total number of 47815 candidates have been trained and 20448 of them established agri-ventures up to March, 2016. These agri-preneurs services to farmers are also required to disseminate agriculture information on knowhow and agricultural technology to the farmers.

3. SUPPORT TO CENTRAL INSTITUTES / DOE
HRD support is provided in following heads under the scheme.

(i) MANAGE:MANAGE is providing training support to senior and middle level functionaries of the State Governments. It is also providing necessary support to the States in implementation of Extension Reforms (ATMA) scheme.more
(ii) Extension Education Institutes (EEIs):Four Extension Education Institutes are operating at the Regional level. The objective of EEIs is to improve the skills and professional competence of Extension field functionaries of Agriculture and allied departments.more
(iii) Model Training Courses (MTCs):Model Training Courses of eight days duration in ICAR Institutes and SAUs on thrust areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Extension are supported by the Directorate of Extension (DOE).more
(iv) Exhibitions and Fairs:Agriculture exhibitions are an excellent mechanism for showcasing latest technological advancements and dissemination of information to the farming community and also for promoting business opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors. The Extension Division/DOE is promoting/ organizing agriculture fairs at different levels. At the national level, the Division participates in India International Trade Fair organized annually by India Trade Promotion Organization. Further, the Division supports five Regional fairs – one in each Region every year. The agriculture fair at Block, District and State levels are also being supported by the Division under its Extension Reforms (ATMA) Scheme and decision in this regard rests with the States.

4. KISAN CALL CENTRES:
This Scheme provides agriculture related information to the farming community through toll free telephone lines. A countrywide common eleven digit number 1800-180-1551 has been allotted for Kisan Call Centre. The number is accessible through all mobile phones and landlines of all telecom networks including private service providers. Replies to the farmers queries are given in 22 local languages. Calls are attended from 6.00 am to 10.00 pm on all seven days of the week at each KCC location. Kisan Call Centre agents known as Level 1 agents respond to the farmers queries instantly. Queries which cannot be answered by Level 1 Agent are transferred to experts in a call conferencing mode. KCCs have been revamped by introducing ‘State of the Art’ features such as voice mail, call recording, call barging, SMS to caller farmers and call conference / call escalation for advice at higher levels. In order to create awareness amongst farmers about KCC programme, audio/video spots on KCC are being broadcast through All India Radio/ Doordarshan and private TV Channels. A Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS) has also been developed to capture the details of farmers calling the KCC and their queries and also a searchable database on State wise package of practices to retrieve correct, consistent and quick reply to the queries of farmers. more