Revised ATMA Guidelines - TNAU Agritech Portal

ANNEXURE-VGUIDELINES TO INSTITUTIONALIZE EFFECTIVE RESEARCH – EXTENSIONLINKAGES UNDER ATMA SCHEME1. INTRODUCTION:The revitalized extension system promoted under ATMA Programmeprovides for a mechanism to support local research and training/ HRD Needs ofextension functionaries belonging to both governmental and non-governmentalsectors. One of the activities undertaken by ATMA is to prepare StrategicResearch and Extension Plan (SREP), which consists of detailed informationabout existing farming systems in the district and research-extension traininggaps required to be filled up so as to undertake only those extension activitieswhich are needed by the farmers in the district. SREP is prepared at the districtlevel through bottom-up participatory process with full participation of allstakeholders including farmers and their representatives at different level.Extension Officers of agriculture and allied departments as well as KVKs andother research institutions shall actively participate in preparation of SREPs.2. Since the SREP preparation has full involvement of KVKs and otherresearch institutions in the district/ state, the local researchable issues whichemanate from SREPs are also firmed up in consultation with KVKs/ ResearchInstitutions. It is, however, felt that the action on these researchable issues iseither delayed inordinately or does not start at all resulting in weak Research-Extension-Farmer Linkage. This situation usually arises due to absence/ lack ofwell defined mechanism for flow of funds from ATMA to KVKs and backflow ofinformation/ action from KVKs to ATMA.3. In order to understand the mechanism of linkages at district level betweenATMA & KVK, joint visits of DAC-ICAR teams were organized in four statesnamely Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. As an outcome ofthese visits, the following key issues have been identified to strengthen R-E-FLinkage in the districts.i) KVKs would be actively involved in preparation of SREP; conduct ofDemonstrations, Field Days, Kisan Melas, Goshties, etc.; and organisingFarm Schools under ATMA Programme.ii)KVK Scientists would act as Master Trainer for the preparation of SREPsand conduct various technical training programmes within the district inidentified gaps.Guidelines for Modified ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ Scheme, 201081