Atma project successful in 48 districts

Bhopal, Jan 25: 'Atma' project is being successfully implemented in 48 districts of Madhya Pradesh. During the year 20056-06 the Union government had launched Atma project for extension of agriculture services. In the beginning the project was implemented in 15 selected districts in Madhya Pradesh. The Union government forms a society in every district under its Atma project and then provided 90 percent financial assistance through these societies for extension and strengthening of agriculture services. Under this project problems of farmers are solved through PRA method. As per the provisions of the society a strategy is chalked out at the district level for extension activities and their implementation.

The state government approved the State-level Agriculture Extension and Training Institute at Barkheri Kalan at Bhopal on May 11, 2006. On December 20 2007 state government declared this institute as autonomous. State Institute of Agriculture Extension and Training Barkheri Kalan was registered under Madhya Pradesh Societies Registration Act 1973 on December 22, 2007. This state-level autonomous institution would now receive funds from the Union government under Atma project for extension of agricultural activities and would make it available to district level Atma Committees for coordination in programme implementation, organising state-level training workshops, fairs, tours, assessment, awards to farmers and other activities.

The Union government has instructed that coordination should be made with non-government sector organisations such as NGOs, farmers' organisations, cooperative societies, para extension, workers, input and suppliers etc so that a new thinking and technique could be evolved in the farm sector. In view of government of India's stance, invitation was extended through advertisement in newspapers to organisations willing to cooperate with Agriculture Department in agriculture extension activities. In the wake of this invitation 49 offers were received. These were minutely inspected by a committee constituted for this purpose. Detailed reports were got prepared for those offers which were found to be fit as per the standards set by Atma Project. These reports were put before the state-level inter-department working committee. In the first phase, the proposal of ITC Company to organise 362 farm schools and 12000 crop demonstrations in 91 development block of 12 districts was cleared and the department was asked to sign a MoU to start this scheme during Rabi 2007-08. The second proposal cleared by the working committee was from KJ Education Society of organising Atma Sandesh and District Agriculture Fare. Orders for further action on this proposal have been given on the condition of recommendation of Coast Norms Committee. The agreement of Director Agriculture with the two agencies namely ITC Limited and Krishak Jagat would continue from October 1, 2007 till March 31, 2009. Under these agreements various activities would be organised during Rabi 2007-08, Kharif 2007 and Rabi 2008-09. Fifty percent expenses on these activities at the state level under Atma project would be borne by Madhya Pradesh government while the rest would be borne by the concerning companies.

In view of the importance of training to farmers in increasing agriculture production, the state government has started training for farmers and a new scheme for women's participation in agriculture during the year 2007-08 under 11th Five-Year Plan. During the year 2007-08 Rs two crore 71 lakh has been spent on the training of farmers belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes against the provision of Rs five crore 52 lakh. Similarly, Rs 72 lakh has been spent against the provision of Rs one crore on the scheme to ensure women's participation in agricultural activities.

The state government also started the novel schemes namely Kisan Mitra and Kisan Didi and selected one Kisan Mitra and one Kisan Didi from each revenue village for agriculture-related training so that yield of various crops could be increased through technical advice. Training was imparted by Indian Society of Agri-business Professions for Kharif 2007 to 70 thousand Kisan Mitras and as many Kisan Didis. Now the cooperation of these Kisan Mitras and Kisan Didis is being taken for agriculture extension for Rabi 2007-08.