Annual Report 2009-2010 - Department of Agriculture & Co-operation

Farmer-to-farmer extension support at the
village level to be promoted through farmers'
groups.
Funding windows provided at both the state
and district levels for implementing
innovative extension activities not specifically
covered under the cafeteria.
Farmers' awards instituted at the block,
district, and state levels.
Community Radio Stations (CRS) to be set
up by KVKs, SAUs and private organizations
are being promoted under the programme.
For non-governmental implementing
agencies, states have been given the
flexibility of having extension work plans
prepared and approved at the state level. A
minimum of 10 per cent of the programme
outlay is to be utilised through them. Nongovernmental
implementing agencies
(excluding the corporate sector) are also
eligible for service charges of up to a
maximum of 10 per cent of the cost of the
extension activities implemented through
them. Apart from other NGOs, financial
assistance is also available for the
implementation of extension activities
through agri-preneurs.
Strengthening of technical back-up support
by providing more flexibility to states to
engage a maximum of six contractual
persons for SAMETI and four contractual
persons for each of the ATMA offices with
the provision of necessary funds under the
ATMA cafeteria only.
Public extension functionaries being made
more effective through training and exposure
visits. MANAGE, Hyderabad, offers a
postgraduate diploma in Agriculture
Extension Management for public extension
functionaries, which is fully funded under the
ATMA programme.
9.4 In order to ensure that key reforms under
the scheme are adequately addressed and
promoted, the cafeteria would continue to
specify the following policy parameters within
which the cafeteria would be used:
9.5 Multi-agency extension strategies: A
minimum of 10 per cent of the allocation on
recurring activities at the district level is to be
used through the non-governmental sector i.e.,
NGOs, Farmers' Organisations (FOs), Panchayati
Raj Institutions (PRIs), para-extension workers,
agri-preneurs, input suppliers, the corporate
sector, etc.
9.6 Farming system approach: The activities
specified in the cafeteria are broad enough to
promote extension delivery consistent with a
farming systems approach and extension needs
emerging through Strategic Research and
Extension Plans (SREP).
9.7 Farmer-centric extension services: The
cafeteria provides for group-based extension and
it has the necessary allocations for activities
related to organising and supporting farmers'
groups. In order to supplement these efforts, a
provision for rewards and incentives to the most
organised farmers' groups has also been provided.
9.8 Convergence: The SREP and SEWP would
also be mechanisms for ensuring convergence
of all activities for extension. At present, resources
for extension activities are being provided under
different schemes of Central/state governments.
It is mandatory for the SEWPs submitted by state
governments for funding under the scheme to
explicitly specify the activities to be supported
from the resources of other ongoing schemes as
well as from this scheme.
9.9 Mainstreaming gender concerns: It is
mandated that a minimum of 30 per cent of
resources for programmes and activities be
utilised for women farmers. Similarly, 30 per cent
of resources meant for extension workers are to
be utilised for women extension functionaries.
9.10 Sustainability of extension services: It is
mandated that a minimum 10 per cent
contribution must be obtained from beneficiaries
with respect to beneficiary oriented activities.
9.11 Implementation Status
A total of 588 ATMAs have been constituted
in 29 states and two UTs.
Agricultural Extension
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