Lok Sabha Question No. 2673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: ATMA Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2673

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  AUGUST, 2022

## ATMA SCHEME

2673  SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ षि  और  ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  the status of the Government's Scheme like Agricultural Technology Management Agency  (ATMA)  in  imparting  training  and  skills  to  rural  youths  and  farmers  in agriculture and allied sectors;
- (b)  whether the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  impart  special  training  to  women farmers; and
- (c) if so, the details along with the outcome thereof during the last three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a), (b) & (c) A Centrally Sponsored Scheme ' Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms' popularly known as ATMA Scheme is under implementation since 2005 for promoting decentralized and farmer-friendly extension system in the country. Presently, 704 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs are covered  under  the  scheme.    Under    the  scheme  Grants-in-Aid  is  released  to  the State Governments with an objective to support State Government's efforts to make available  the  latest  agricultural  technologies  and  good  agricultural  practices  in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers including training and skills  to  rural  youths  and  farmers through different extension activities viz; Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Mela,  Mobilization  of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc. During the last three years i.e. 2019-20 to  2021-22,  27.93  lakh  women  farmers  have  benefitted  under  the  ATMA Scheme.

The  'Skill  Training  of  Rural  Youth'  (STRY)  of  'Sub  Mission  on  Agriculture Extension'  (SMAE) is  under  implementation  in  the  country  since  2015-16.  Under this  short  term  skill  training  of  7  days  (15  trainees  per  batch)  is  imparted  to  rural youth and farmers including Women on specific vocational areas in agriculture and allied areas.

Skill Training under National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) (minimum 200 hrs): The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) has operationalized skill trainings (min. 200 hours duration) imparted to rural youth and farmers  including  women  after  the  Gazette  Notification  issued  by  Ministry  of  Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in July, 2015.

These training are being conducted through wide network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras of  ICAR,  State  Level  Training  Institutes  (SAMETIS),  State  Agricultural  Universities and  Training  Institutes  of  DA&FW,  across  the  country.  The  skills  gained  by farmers/rural youth in these trainings are useful in gaining self employment. During the  last  three  years  (2019-21  to  2021-22),  as  many  as 25,920  rural  youth/farmers including  women  have  been  trained  across  the  country  under  STRY  and  21,209 rural  youth/farmers  including  women  have  been  trained  under  Skill  Training  for minimum 200 hours respectively.

Under  Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanization  (SMAM) different  types  of training programmes are organized for rural youths and farmers through its following four subordinate Regional Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes: -

1.  Central  Farm  Machinery  Training  &  Testing  Institute,  Budni-District  (Madhya Pradesh).
2.  Northern Regional Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institute, Hisar (Haryana).
3.  Southern  Region  Farm  Machinery  Training  &  Testing  Institute,  GarladinneDistrict, Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh)
4.  North  Eastern  Region  Farm  Machinery  Training  &  Testing  Institute,  Biswanath Chariali (Assam).

During the last three years i.e. 2019-21 to 2021-22, 15,718 Women Farmers have been trained under SMAM.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network of 731  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the  country  mandated  with  Technology Assessment and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity Development. KVKs organize training programs for the benefit of farmers and farm women, rural youth and extension personnel. During the last three years i.e. 2019-21 to 2021-22, 43.20 lakh  farmers  including  farm  women  have  been  trained  by  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras (KVKs)

Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Materials (SMSP) is  under implementation in which  farmers  training  are  carried  out  on  seed  production  and  post  harvest  seed technology aspects under the components of Seed Village Programme (SVP) and Certified Seed Production through Seed Village (CSP). During the last three years i.e. 2019-21 to 2021-22. 28.67 lakh farmers including farm women have been trained under SMSP.

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