Revised ATMA Guidelines - TNAU Agritech Portal

GUIDELINES FOR MODIFIED CENTRALLY SPONSOREDSCHEME ‘SUPPORT TO STATE EXTENSIONPROGRAMMES FOR EXTENSION REFORMS’, 2010EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programmesfor Extension Reforms” is an ongoing scheme being implemented since 2005-06. This Scheme is now operational in 591 rural districts of the country. Theinstitutional mechanism for extension under the Scheme has hitherto beenas follows:• SAMETI is the State level institution catering to the training and HRDneeds of extension functionaries.• Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is responsible forcoordination and management of agricultural extension related work inthe District.• Block Technology Team (BTT) consisting of line departmentrepresentatives in the Block.• Farmers Advisory Committees at Block level comprising a group offarmers to advise and provide inputs to the BTT.The Scheme did not provide for dedicated manpower support at State,District and Block levels. The work pertaining to ATMA was mostly beinglooked after by officers of State Departments as an additional charge.Moreover, the extension system below the Block level was not optimal.Consequently, the implementation of the Scheme in the field could not showthe desired impact.4. The Scheme has now been modified and strengthened with a strongmanpower, infrastructure and activity as summarised below:Guidelines for Modified ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ Scheme, 20105