Lok Sabha Question No. 2478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-02
Subject: Knowledge and Information in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2478

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  2 ND  JANUARY, 2018

## KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

2478.  SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has realized that the knowledge and information deficits are the major hurdles in developing agricultural sector in rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): Dissemination and transfer of knowledge and information is an important strategy for the Government for developing the Agriculture Sector in the country. In this respect the main extension system mandated for dissemination and knowledge transfer among farmers is operated by the State Governments. However, Government has been laying special emphasis on dissemination of information and knowledge transfer to the farmers through a series of initiatives like Extension Reforms, Mass Media Support to Agricultural  Extension,  Kisan  Call  Centres,  Agri-Clinics  and  Agri-Business  Centres, Exhibitions/  Fairs  etc.  A  brief  of  these  initiatives  is  given  at  Annexure.  Further,  a network of 681 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) has been established by Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  to  facilitate  farmer's  access  to  knowledge  and  information generated by Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes of the country.

Annexure referred in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2478 to be answered on 02.01.2018 regarding Knowledge and Information in Agriculture Sector

## Brief on initiatives taken for dissemination of knowledge and information to the farmers

A multi-tiered extension strategy with a blend of following extension and outreach initiatives is being followed under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) so as  to  empower  farmers  with  the  latest  knowledge  and  information  in  agriculture  and allied sectors.

(i) Support  to  State  Extension  Programmes  for  Extension  Reforms:-    ATMA Scheme has been extended to cover 676 rural districts of 29 States & 3 UTs across the country.    This  Scheme  has  been  revised  to  include  manpower  support;  roping  in  the farmers' feed back in to planning by setting up Farmer Advisory Committees (FACs) at Block/  District  &  State  Level  and  providing  farmer-to-farmer  learning  and  extension support  through  Farmer  Friend.    The  Modified  Scheme  has  dedicated  Specialists  & Functionary Support at State (2 at State Nodal Cell and 7 to 15at SAMETI level based on the number of blocks in the State/UT ), District (5 per district) & Block level (4 per Block).Various  activities  supported  under  the  Scheme  for  educating  and  creating awareness amongst  farmers include farmers trainings, exposure visits, demonstration, Kisan Mela mobilization of farmers Interest  Groups (FIGs) and  farm schools etc. Since inception  of  the  scheme  in  2005,  4.33  crore  farmers'  have  been  benefited  through various farmer oriented activities.

(ii) Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension:- The primary objective of the Scheme  is  to  use  Electronic  Media,  Print  Media  &  Social  Media  with  their  massive penetration as a vehicle that could be exploited for the purpose of extension.

Under this scheme existing infrastructure of Doordarshan and All India Radio is being utilized to  make the farmers aware about modern technologies and researches related to agriculture and allied areas. A 30 minute programme named Krishi Darshan is being telecast 5 days a week through 18 Regional Kendras of Doordarshan. Similarly, 96 Rural FM Radio Stations of All India Radio are being utilized to broadcast 30 minutes of programme named KisanVani for farmers 6 days a week.  Besides, DD - Kisan 24x7 Channel also disseminates the information and production technologies on Agriculture.

During the  telecast  of  Krishi  Darshan  programme  a  capsule  programme  called Mandi Bhav and  Agri-News are being produced in-house and telecast the same for the benefit of the farmers. The existing prices for different agri-products in the local Mandis linked  with  the  network  are  being  telecast  for  the  local  farmers  for  their  maximum benefit.

Focused Publicity & Awareness Campaign: Apart from Krishi Darshan and Kisan Vani Programmes, the 'Focused Publicity & Awareness Campaign' is also executed to create  awareness  about  the  assistance  available  under  various  schemes  of  the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation& Farmers Welfare and also to create awareness  on  best  agricultural  practices  available.  Audio-Video  Spots  are  being broadcast/telecast  through  DD,  AIR  and  Private  TV  Radio  Channels  operating  at National & Regional Level during news, entertainment programmes, serials etc for the benefit  of  the  farmers.  In  addition  to  that  print  advertisements  on  best  agricultural practices  available  under  different  schemes  of  DAC&FW  as  well  as  Govt's  flagship programmes  are  being  published  in  leading  newspaper  across  the  country  to  create awareness  among  the  farmers.  Social  Media  platforms  such  as  facebook,  twitter, youtube  etc.  are  also  being  utilized  for  creating  awareness  about  various  flagship programmes of the Ministry.

(iii) Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centres:-  The Scheme was launched in 2002 and provides extension  services  to farmers  through  setting  up  of  economically  viable self - employment ventures. Selected trainees are provided agri-preneurship training for a period  of  two  months by MANAGE through  identified Nodal Training Institutions in various states, which also provide handholding support for one year. NABARD monitors the credit support to Agri-Clinics through Commercial Banks.  Provision of credit-linked back-ended subsidy @ 36% has been approved under the scheme.  The subsidy would be 44% in respect of candidates belonging to SC, ST, women and those from NorthEastern and Hill States.

The scheme provides efficacious and cost effective mode of extension services. Since inception of the scheme in 2002, 55421 unemployed candidates with agriculture qualification have been trained and 23503 agri-ventures have been set up by the trained candidates upto November, 2017. Subsidy has been extended to 1850 established agriventures as on November 2017.

(iv) Kisan Call Centres:- Agriculture and allied sector related information is provided to the farmers through Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) having toll free telephone line 1800180-1551 accessible through all mobile phones and landlines of all telecom networks including private service providers. Replies to the farmers' queries are given in 22 local languages between 6.00 am to 10.00 pm on all seven days of the week. The KCCs set up  at  14  locations  have  been  restructured  in  2012  to  make  it  more  effective.    Since inception  of  the  scheme,  in  the  year  2004  over  349.40lakh  live  calls  have  been registered at the KCC till 30 th November, 2017.

(v) Information  dissemination  through  Agri  Fairs:-  Agriculture  exhibition  is  an excellent mechanism for showcasing latest technological advancements and dissemination of information to the farming community and also for promoting business opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors.  The Extension Division is participating / supporting the exhibition/ fairs / seminars / conference etc. at the different level in the country. promoting/ organizing agriculture fairs at different levels.  At the national level, the  Division  participates  in  India  International  Trade  Fair  organized  annually  by  India Trade  Promotion  Organization.  The  Division  also  supports  five  Regional  Agricultural fairs - one in each Region every year.  The agriculture fair at Block, District and State levels are also being supported by the Division under the Extension Reforms (ATMA) Scheme and decision in this regard is taken up by the concerned State Government.

- (vi) Capacity building  components  under 'Extension Support to Central Institutes/  DOE':-      Ministry  of  Agriculture  has  established  four  Extension  Education Institutes  on  regional  basis  at  Nilokheri  (Haryana);  Hyderabad  (Telangana);  Anand (Gujarat)  and  Jorhat  (Assam)  to  cater  to  the  training  needs  of  middle-level  field extension functionaries working under agriculture and allied departments of States/UTs of respective regions.  The programmatic activities of EEIs include organization of oncampus/off-campus trainings, workshops, conferences etc. in the areas of communication  technology,  extension  methodology,  training  management,  Agriculture Knowledge Information System (AKIS) and Information and Communication Technology.  The primary objective of establishing four Extension Education Institutes is to  train  professional  leaders  with  expertise  in  the  field  of  extension  education  and communication technology.

(vii) Model Training Courses(MTCs):The Directorate of Extension (DOE), DAC&FW sponsors Model Training Courses (MTCs) of 8 days duration to be organized by reputed National/ Central Institutes, ICAR Institutes and State Agricultural Universities(SAUs) in specialized areas for capacity building of middle-level extension functionaries of agriculture & allied departments of States/ UTs. 53 training programmes have been organized during 2017-18 (upto November, 2017).

(viii)   Skill Training of Rural Youth(STRY):-   The component launched in 2015 aims at training rural youths/farm women,  rural artisans (blacksmiths, carpenter etc. designing/ manufacturing farm implements) across the country. The training under this component  is  of  7  days  duration  for  15  trainees  per  batch  focusing  on  specific vocational areas in agriculture  & allied sectors. Both public and  private/  NonGovernmental Institutions including Vocational Training organizations, Youth Organizations (like Nehru Yuva Kendra) will be actively involved in implementation of this  programme.  206  training  programmes  @15  participants  per  training  programme have been organized during 2016-17 (up to March, 2017).

- (ix) Farmers Capacity Assessment &Certification(FCAC):This scheme launched in 2015, it is aimed at providing recognition to traditionally skilled farmers/farm women  in  various  sectors  of  agriculture  &  allied  disciplines  through  certification. launched The exercise of certification covers the process of 'Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) Skill' by testing and certification process by a designated agency. If farmers/ farm women found competent in  possessing the  traditional  or  prior  possessed  skill  by  the certifying bodies, they are issued certificates, so that they may be recognized for getting employment  in  the  concerned  skill  sector  by  the  prospective  employers  in  the  job market.
- (x) Diploma  in  Agricultural  Extension  Services  for  Input  Dealers  (DAESI):DAESI is of one year (48 weeks) regular course launched in 2003 with an objective to impart education in agriculture and other allied areas to the Input Dealers so that they can  establish  linkage  to  their  business  with  extension  services,  besides  discharging regulatory responsibilities assigned to them.

This programme was earlier implemented through MANAGE @ Rs. 20,000/- per candidate in self-financing mode in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Jharkhand  &  West  Bengal.  Now  SAMETIs  are  also  involved  in  conducting  training programmes and so far 7761 candidates have been trained under 194 DAESI batches organized till Nov, 2017. During 2017-18, DAESI  programme is under implementation

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