Lok Sabha Question No. 3253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Skill Development among Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shiromani Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK   SABHA

## UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.3253

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 st  MARCH, 2023

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG FARMERS

3253. SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of schemes being implemented to promote Skill Development among farmers in agriculture and allied sectors;
- (b) the funds earmarked and spent under the said schemes during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (c) the details of initiatives proposed to increase capacity building of farmers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्  याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR

- (a) to (c) The  Government  has  initiated  and  is  implementing  the  following schemes aimed to promote skill development and capacity building among farmers in the agriculture and allied sectors

A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  on  'Support  to  State  Extension  Programmes  for Extension Reforms' popularly known  as Agriculture  Technology  Management Agency  (ATMA)  Scheme  is  under  implementation since 2005. It is being implemented  in  704  districts  of  28  states  &5  UTs  of  the  country.    The  scheme promotes  decentralized  farmer-friendly  system  in  the  country  with  an  objective  to support  State  Government's  efforts  to  revitalize  the  extension  system  and  making available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  and  good  agricultural  practices  in different  thematic  areas  of  agriculture  and  allied  areas  to  farmers.    The  extension activities  under  ATMA  include  Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits, Kisan Melas, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

After  the  Gazette  Notification  issued  by  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and Entrepreneurship in July 2015, the DA& FW has been operationalising skill training courses (minimum 200 hrs.) under National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) for rural  youth  and  farmers  as  per  the  approved  Qualification  Packs  developed  by Agriculture  Skill  Council  of  India,  through  the  National  Training  Institutes,  State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities.

Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) was launched in 2015 with the objective to impart short term skill training (7 days duration inclusive of 1 day for local travel) to rural  youths  and  farmers  in  agriculture  and  allied  areas  for  upgradation  of  their knowledge  and  skills  and  promote  wage/self  employment  in  rural  areas.  The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) is implementing STRY  across  the  country  through  State  Agricultural  Management  &  Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs), ATMA and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

In addition to the above, the Government is providing financial assistance to the  States  under  the  Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  for  organizing  training  of  farmers. Also  under  the  Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanisation  a  component  namely 'Promotion and  Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing  and  Demonstration'  has  been  kept  and  is  aimed  for  skill  development programme in various fields of agriculture mechanization which has helped them in improving their skill levels for efficient operations thereby saving in cost of operations.  Training of farmers is also promoted under RKVY-RAFTAAR.

The  funds  earmarked  under  the  above  ATMA  and  Skill  Training  of  Rural Youth (STRY) schemes during the last three years and the current year along with the amount spent there under are attached as Annexure I & II.

The  funds  earmarked  and  spent  under  the  training  component  of  Extension Reforms (ATMA) scheme during 2019-20 to 2022-23.

| Year     | Financial Progress (Rs. in Crores)   | Financial Progress (Rs. in Crores)   |
|----------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|          | Earmarked                            | Spent                                |
| 2019-20  | 214.49                               | 208.00                               |
| 2020-21  | 320.70                               | 243.70                               |
| 2021-22  | 361.07                               | 232.08                               |
| 2022-23* | 255.59                               | 137.77                               |
| Total    | 1151.85                              | 821.55                               |

Annexure- II The  funds  earmarked  and  spent  under  the  Short  Duration  (7  days)  Skill

Training of Rural Youth (STRY) during 2019-20 to 2022-23.

| Year     | Financial Progress(Rs. in Crore)   | Financial Progress(Rs. in Crore)   |
|----------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|          | Earmarked                          | Spent                              |
| 2019-20  | 2.56                               | 2.56                               |
| 2020-21  | 2.75                               | 1.79                               |
| 2021-22  | 3.04                               | 2.54                               |
| 2022-23* | 2.60                               | 2.60                               |
| Total    | 10.95                              | 9.49                               |

*****