Lok Sabha Question No. 3869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Training to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3869

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## TRAINING TO FARMERS

3869  SHRIMATI RANJEET KOLI SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government is implementing any scheme to impart the rural youths and farmers  skill  development  training  relating  to  agriculture  in  agriculture  and  allied sectors and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) If not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) Whether any steps are being taken by the Government to impart special training to women farmers; and
- (d) If so, the details thereof along with the outcome thereof during the last five years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b):  ATMA: 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, 691 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs are covered under the scheme. Under the scheme Grantsin-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  through  different extension  activities  viz;  Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

O.I.H.

Skill Training (min. 200 hrs. duration): The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare has operationalized skill training (min 200 hrs.) to impart training to rural youth and farmers after the  Gazette  Notification  issued  by  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  in July, 2015. These courses are conducted through National Training Institutes, State Level Training  Institutes  (SAMETIs),  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  and  State  Agricultural  Universities. The skill trainings are conducted on the Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council  of  India  (ASCI)  in  agriculture  &  allied  areas  in  compliance  with  the  National  Skill Qualification  Framework.  The  major  areas of  skill  trainings  include  mushroom  production, bee-keeping, micro-irrigation, maintenance and repair of farm equipments, nursery management,  organic  grower,  vermi-compost  production,  animal  husbandry,  dairying, poultry, fishery etc. The  'Skill  Training  of  Rural  Youth'  (STRY) of  'Sub  Mission  on  Agriculture  Extension' (SMAE) is under implementation in the country since 2015-16. The short term skill training of  7  days  (15  trainees  per  batch)  is  imparted  to  rural  youth  and  farmers  on  specific vocational areas in agriculture and allied areas through public and private/Non Governmental  training  institutes  including  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  and  State  Agricultural Universities. The  funds  are  released  to  National Institutes of Agricultural  Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad being an implementing agency of STRY component. Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs): The Government has set up 727 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in  the  Country  with  mandate of  technology  assessment  and  demonstration for  its application and capacity development. As part of its mandated activities, the KVKs organize training  programmes  for  farmers  including  rural  youth  and  women  farmers  for  their knowledge and skill up gradation in agriculture and allied sectors. (c)&(d):  The  Guidelines  of  ATMA  Scheme  provide  that  States  and  other  Implementing Women  Extension

Agencies to incur 30% expenditure on Women  Farmers and Functionaries.

During last five years i.e. 2016-17 to 2020-21, an amount of Rs.2795.68 crore was released to the States/UTs/MANAGE to carry out extension activities and total 2,10,59,707 farmers have been benefitted through different extension activities under the ATMA Scheme, out of which 53,11,274 Women Farmers have been benefitted.

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