Lok Sabha Question No. 1891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1891

TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2023

## NATIONAL MISSION ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND TECHNOLOGY

1891  SHRI PATEL HASMUSHBHAI SOMABHAI: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

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

- (a) the  objectives  of  National  Mission  on  Agricultural  Extension  and  Technology (NMAET);
- (b) the details of physical and financial progress made under the NMAET under its various sub-mission, year and State-wise;
- (c) whether  the  scheme  is  being  implemented  in  Gujarat  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is taking initiatives for improving the extension system to  disseminate  appropriate  technologies  and  relevant  information  to  larger  number  of farmers and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of agriculture extension network in the country, State-wise; and
- (f) the  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  development  of  the agriculture extension system in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c) National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET) was  started  in  2014-15  with  objectives  (i)  to  restructure  &  strengthening agricultural extension to enable delivery of appropriate technology and improved  agronomic  practices  to  the  farmers;  (ii)  to  achieve  extensive
- physical outreach & use of interactive methods of information dissemination; (iii) use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT); (iv) popularization  of  modern  and  appropriate  technologies;  (v)  to  promote Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) (vi) capacity building and institution strengthening  to  promote  mechanization;  (vii)  availability  of  quality  seeds; and  (viii)  plant  protection.  However,  the  NMAET  has  been  subsumed  in Krishonnati Yojana in 2017-18. (d) Yes. While  the  concept  of  district  level Agricultural  Technology  Management Agency (ATMA) has been promoted with an idea to provide a platform for integrated extension  delivery  involving  all  the  stake-holders,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs) operating at the same level act as an out-reach arm of National Agricultural Research System  facilitating  validation  and  adoption  of  new  technologies  through  front  line demonstrations, training & awareness programs and other initiatives. Presently, ATMA Scheme is being implemented in 704 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs and 731 KVKs have been established across the country. (e)  The  State-wise  number  of  districts  and  blocks  covered  under  ATMA  Scheme  is given at Annexure-I . (f) Besides,  following are the other steps being  taken  by  the  Government  for development of the agriculture extension system in the country: i. In order to develop agri-entrepreneurs and agri-startups, a Scheme namely AgriClinics & Agri-Business Centre (AC&ABC) is under implementation. ii. For answering famers' calls, Kisan Call Centre (KCC) is under operation from 17 locations across the country. iii. Mass Media Scheme in Agricultural Extension (MMSAE) is under implementation for increased out-reach through print, electronic, digital & social media platform. iv. Diploma  in  Agricultural  Extension  Services  for  Input  Dealers  (DAESI)  is  under implementation  for  providing  one  year  training  of  the  Input  Dealers  through distance learning mode. v. For  regular  capacity  building  of  middle  level  extension  functionaries  working  in the  States  in  Extension  and  Communication  Methodology,  four  Extension

Education Institutes (EEIs) are in operation in the country from different locations at National level.

- vi. In order to provide managerial training in agricultural extension to the senior level extension personnel engaged in the States Department of Agriculture, an apex level  institutions  i.e.  National  Institute  of  Agricultural  Extension  Management (MANAGE) is working since 1985.
- vii. Exhibition/Fairs are organized for generating awareness among large number of farmers in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied subjects.

| ANNEXURE-I   | ANNEXURE-I        | ANNEXURE-I       | ANNEXURE-I    |
|--------------|-------------------|------------------|---------------|
| SL. No.      | State/ UT         | No. of Districts | No. of Blocks |
| (1)          | (2)               | (3)              | (4)           |
| 1            | Andhra Pradesh    | 13               | 170           |
| 2            | Bihar             | 38               | 534           |
| 3            | Chhattisgarh      | 27               | 146           |
| 4            | Goa               | 2                | 11            |
| 5            | Gujarat           | 33               | 248           |
| 6            | Haryana           | 21               | 120           |
| 7            | Jharkhand         | 24               | 263           |
| 8            | Karnataka         | 29               | 223           |
| 9            | Kerala            | 14               | 152           |
| 10           | Maharashtra       | 34               | 351           |
| 11           | Madhya Pradesh    | 52               | 313           |
| 12           | Odisha            | 30               | 314           |
| 13           | Punjab            | 22               | 145           |
| 14           | Rajasthan         | 33               | 295           |
| 15           | Tamil Nadu        | 31               | 385           |
| 16           | Telangana         | 32               | 107           |
| 17           | Uttar Pradesh     | 75               | 824           |
| 18           | West Bengal       | 23               | 347           |
| 19           | Himachal Pradesh  | 12               | 88            |
| 20           | Uttrakhand        | 13               | 95            |
| 21           | Assam             | 39               | 219           |
| 22           | Arunachal Pradesh | 25               | 109           |
| 23           | Manipur           | 9                | 60            |
| 24           | Meghalaya         | 11               | 46            |
| 25           | Mizoram           | 8                | 26            |
| 26           | Nagaland          | 12               | 74            |
| 27           | Tripura           | 8                | 58            |
| 28           | Sikkim            | 6                | 31            |
| 29           | A&N Islands       | 3                | 9             |
| 30           | Ladakh            | 2                | 31            |
| 31           | NCT of Delhi      | 1                | 6             |
| 32           | Puducherry        | 2                | 15            |
| 33           | J&K               | 20               | 286           |
| TOTAL:       | TOTAL:            | 704              | 6101          |

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