Lok Sabha Question No. 1868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Awareness regarding Modern Agricultural Technology
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1868

TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2023

## AWARENESS REGARDING MODERN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

1868.  SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  spread  awareness  among  the farmers to integrate the modern agricultural technology in farming particularly in Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  highlighting  the  benefits  of digitization of agriculture to increase productivity and reduce the losses; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Yes. The Government has taken number of steps to spread awareness amongst the farmers to integrate the modern agricultural technologies in farming across the country including Gujarat. Details of such Schemes are as under:
- (i) Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation across the country aimed at creating awareness amongst farmers about new technologies. Presently, Scheme is being implemented in 704 districts of 28 states & 5  UTs  [Including  all  the  33  districts  of  Gujarat].  The  scheme  promotes  decentralized farmer-friendly  extension  system  in  the  country.  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  sector  including  spreading  awareness amongst the farmers to integrate the modern agricultural technology in farming to farmers through  different  extension  activities  viz;  Farmers  Training,  Demonstrations,  Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

(ii)  ICAR: The  Government  has  set  up  731  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  different States  of  the  Country  including  30  KVKs  in  Gujarat  to  spread  awareness  amongst  the farmers to integrate the modern agricultural technology in farming. The activities of KVKs include  on-farm  testing  to  identify  the  location  specificity  of  technology  under  various farming systems; frontline demonstration to establish the production potential of improved agricultural  technologies  on  the  farmers'  fields;  capacity  development  of  farmers  for knowledge and skill up-gradation; and production of quality seeds, planting materials and other  technology  inputs  for  availability  to  the  farmers.  In  order  to  develop  awareness  of improved agricultural technology among the farmers, a large number of extension activities are taken up by the KVKs.

(iii)  RFS: RFS Division is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD) Schemes. The PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm  level  through  Micro  Irrigation  viz  Drip  and  Sprinkler  Irrigation  Systems  and  RAD focuses  on  Integrated  Farming  System  (IFS)  for  enhancing  productivity  and  minimizing risks associated with climatic variability.

Government  is  implementing  various  programmes  to  spread  the  awareness  of  modern agricultural technology in association with State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and ICAR Institutes in the Country like;

-  Quality seed production.
-  Establishment of frontline demonstration plots for dissemination of latest. Technologies.
-  Organizes transfer of technology programmes like Seminar and Workshops..
-  Conducts farmers training programme to update the farmers on latest improved technologies  and  to  Conduct  Skill  training  programme  for  rural  youths  and farmers on latest & modern technology in agriculture and allied areas.

In  Gujarat,  these  programmes  are  implemented  through  Anand  Agricultural  University, Junagadh  Agricultural  University,  Sardarkrushinagar,  Dantiwada  Agricultural  University

(SDAU),  Navasari  Agricultural  University,  Directorate  of  Medicinal  and  Aromatic  Plants, ICAR -Central Arid zone Research Institute, ICAR Complex Bhuj.

(iv) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Under MIDH scheme, Government  has  conducted  Transfer  of  Technology  (TOT)  programmes  on  different subjects in various states including Gujarat.

(v) Directorate of Cashew  nuts  and  Cocoa Development  (DCCD): Following technology transfer programmes are implemented by the DCCD: -

-  Organized District  level  seminar,  fair  in  various  states  for  spreading  awareness  on latest productive technologies to the farmers.
-  Conducted training programme to the farmers in various aspects of farming consisting of nursery management,  management  of  diseases, canopy management,  improved  production  technologies,  post-harvest  management  and processing, drying and storage, preparation of primary and value-added products.

(c) & (d): An evaluation and impact assessment of ATMA Scheme was carried out in 2018 and 2020 by a 3 rd  Party evaluation. The observation of the agencies was that ATMA has a strong institutional presence on the ground and its activities enabled farmers to learn about new  technologies  and  have  the  opportunity  to  interact  with  scientists  and  farmers  from other  states,  agricultural  universities  to  enable  them  to  increase  their  knowledge  and broaden  their  horizons.  NITI  Aayog  has  also  carried  out  evaluation  of  ATMA  and recommended  for  continuation  of  the  Scheme  with  more  demonstration  in  the  farmers field.

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