ATMA – FARMERS FLAG SHIP
Agricultural Technology Management Agency shortly termed as ATMA is a Farmer Oriented Programme to Improvise various skills not only in Agricultural Field but also in different other allied Departments like Animal Husbandry , Horticulture, Fisheries and Sericulture.
The main aim of this agency is to impart technical knowledge on a broad based scale to the farmers in getting fruitful results and better per unit Income. The ATMA was established in the year 2005 in Krishna District and is in implementation as on date. The ATMA focuses its attention towards the following major items.

1).Farmer Training Programmes.
2) Exposure Visits - Inter District & Inter State tours.
3) Organization of demonstrations.
4) Agricultural exhibitions.
5) Organization of Rythu Mithra groups at Village level.
6) Extension Programmes for the benefit of farmers.
7) Formation of Block Technology Teams at the Agricultural Division level.
8) Government & NGO participatory Programmes in the Agricultural & allied Departmental activities.
9) Based on the interests & Needs of the farmers, formation of commodity Income Groups (CIG) & Farmer Interest Groups (FIG).
10) Preparation of short term & long term plans keeping in view of the farmers needs and their successful implementation.
11) Formation of women groups in the activities of Agricultural & allied Department and organizing training Programmes.
12) To create awareness among the farmers for taking up extension programmes on their own.

To ground the above programmes and also to suggest improvisation of activities certain committees are formed at State, District and Divisional level.

A). State Level :
The state level Committee formed based on the guidelines issued in the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Scheme with the State Agricultural Commissioner as Nodal Officer. The members include two Coordinators [ Additional Directors of Agriculture ] two DDS [Subject Matter Specialists] and other staff appointed by Agricultural commission.
This Committee operates with its office in SAMETI, Old malakpet, Hyderabad and reviews the programmes implemented in the state.
B). Inter Departmental working Group :
This group consists of Agricultural Principal Secretary as Chairman and Secretaries from Finance, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Rural development , Fisheries and other related departments are members. Soil Conservation officer, Women & Child Development officer, vice Chancellor from Agricultural University, Director from IARI, representatives from NABARD and Director Doordarshan are also members in this committee.
C). ATMA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE :
To Implement the ATMA programmes and to plan the Day to day programmes, in this committee manages to review the activities.
ATMA, Project Director is the Chairman for this Committee while the Heads of officers from Agriculture , Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Sericulture, Rural Development , Lead Bank Officer and two Deputy Project Directors in the Districts are members along with coordinator KVK, Garikapadu, Scientists from Agricultural Research Station, Representative from NGOs, Farmer groups and NABARD. One dealer marketing the Agricultural Inputs, One progressive farmer, one women Farmer are also members of this Committee.
This Committee conducts meeting every month and identifies farmer problems in a participatory action research (PAR) method. This Committee also attends on the following items.
a). Inclusion of programmes implementing scientific technology mentioned in the SREP duly identifying each item.
b). Preparation of ATMA annual plan and approving the same.
c). Review of receipts and expenditure under ATMA.
d). To consult all the members before preparation of annual Plan.
e). To extend information to the farmers by establishing Agricultural information Centers at Divisional level.
f). To inform the District Governing Board about the results of various activities implemented during the period.

D). District Governing Board :
This board consists of District Collector as Chairman, Project Director, ATMA as convenor and heads of Departments of Agricultural, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture , Fisheries and sericulture as members including farmer representatives.
E). Block Level Technology Team :
The Assistant Director of Agriculture of the Division acts as leader for the BTT while officers from Agricultural & allied Departments including Scientists from KVK & ARS are members.
F). Block Farmers Advisory Committee (BFAC):
20 to 25 farmers are members in this committee & one of them is elected as Chairman while the concerned divisional Assistant Directors of Agriculture will act as member Secretary.

Details of Activities taken up under ATMA:
1). Farmer Training Programme:
Farmer Training Programmes are scheduled within the District, within the State and outside the State, either in the extension Education Institutes or in the research stations for benefit of the farmers. ATMA provides an amount of Rs.1000/- per farmer for 10 days outside the State & Rs.750/- per farmer within the State. Rs.400/- is provided to each farmer within the district for 5 days training Programme.
2). Organization of Demonstration Plots:
Demonstrations on various aspects indicating the Gaps identified in that area and strategies to be adopted to overcome the said deficit.
Examples include Zinc deficiency, Salinity Problems etc.. Normally each demonstration will be arranged in an extent of 1 acre and inputs worth Rs.4000/- are supplied on subsidy.
These demonstrations are also organized by the allied Departments duly identifying the gaps in their Sector.
3). Field Demonstrations & Front Line Demonstrations:
Institutes like KVK, Soil Testing Lab are entrusted with the job of organizing field demonstrations & Front Line demonstrations duly providing the required budget by ATMA.
The Assistant Director of Agriculture, Soil Testing Lab, Gollapudi in Krishna District has been entrusted with the organization of FLDs & FDs. The results of this demonstrations will be provided to other farmers for implementation in their fields.

4). Transfer of Technology :
This is being done from farmer to farmer to create awareness among the farmers on the newly introduced technologies in Agricultural & allied fields. Nearly 30 to 50 farmers are taken around the field for 5 or 6 times to show them various new technologies adopted in that particular filed. An amount of Rs.1500/- is provided to the organizer for supplying Tea & Tiffins to the farmers visiting the fields.
5). Exposure Visits :
These visits are planned within the District for one day, within the State & outside State for 10 days to the place where improved Agricultural practices and also other activities are takenup by the allied Departments. An amount of Rs.600/- is provided per day per farmer, for tours outside the State and Rs.300/day per farmer within the State. An amount of Rs.250/day per Farmer is provided for visits within the District.
6). Capacity Building & Skill Development Programmes:
Several farmer groups like CIG, FIG, DWCRA groups, Farmer Cooperative Societies & allied institutions are selected for imparting capacity building & Skill development training Programmes. An amount of Rs.5000/- is provided for each group.
7). Awards to Farmers:
Every year 5 groups which have performed outstanding activities and produced valuable results in Agricultural & allied fileds are selected and an amount of Rs.20,000/- is provided to each group as an award.
At the Divisional level progressive farmers who have achieved best results are selected and awarded Rs.10,000/- as cash prize along with a certificate of merit.
8). Field day Celebrations :
During Kharif & Rabi seasons farmer field days are organized in each Agriculture Division to create awareness in the farmers about the improved crop technologies during the Crop growth period.
Scientists & extension staff participate in theses Programmes & held discussions with the farmers on the various problems faced by them at the field level and on the marketing side.
ATMA provides expenses for arranging Shamianas, Chairs, mike, tea, tiffin etc.. and also the transport and honorarium to the Scientists participated in the Programme.
9). Farmer Field Schools :
These farmers Schools are arranged considering the local needs of the farmers on priority and training programmes are organized on each item.

In every season one farmer field is selected where in improved Agricultural practices are adopted by the farmer and other farmers are advised to ground the same duly observing the potentialities in implementing the programme.
The Divisional level BTT leader will arrange 3 such farmer filed schools in his division. Likewise NGOs & allied Departments shall also arrange such programmes. Under ATMA each farmer field school is provided with Rs.29,414/- in each season.
10). Organization of exhibitions & Kissan Melas:
On important occasions like Sankranthi festival, Yeruvaka etc exhibitions & kissanmelas are organized by ATMA in the villages to create awareness among the farmers on the latest technology in the field of Agricultural & allied Sectors.
11). Information Dissemination :
Any new technology need to be made available at the door step of the farmers through various media. In particular printing of Pamphlets & literature in the local language is being takenup by ATMA on occasion where such action warrants.
12). Technology through Electronic Media & IT Network :
Progressive farmers and Extension staff are to be provided information on the latest field level technologies through electronic media and information technology network. ATMA proposes to include this in the annual plan keeping in view of the guidelines provide in SREP.
13). Agriculture Clinics & Agriculture Business Centers :
The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management [MANAGE], Rajendranagar, Hyderabad is taking up training programme to the Agricultural graduates for establishing Agriculture clinics & Agriculture Business Centers for transfer of technology and various Extension activities the farmers have to adopt at field level. These centers are identified by ATMA and are provided with necessary technical Assistance.