Lok Sabha Question No. 408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Training to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Alok Sharma, Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Shri Praveen Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.408

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  February, 2025

## TRAINING TO FARMERS

408 MS. KANGNA RANAUT SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL SHRI ALOK SHARMA SHRI MANISH JAISWAL DR. RAJESH MISHRA

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष ए ं व िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) The objective behind the collaboration projects and the manner in which it aims to benefit farmers in India;
- (b) Whether there are any initiatives planned to train farmers to use tools or systems developed thereunder;
- (c) If so, the details thereof; and
- (d) The details of training programme running for farmers in Hazaribag, Ramgarh and Parliamentary Constituency of Sidhi and the number of farmers trained so far along with the details of new proposals to train the farmers on priority?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  in  collaboration  with  State Governments and ICAR organizes training programmes for the benefits of farmers. This Department  implements  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  'Support  to  State  Extension Programs for Extension Reforms (ATMA)' to supplement the efforts of State Government to make them available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices on various thematic areas of agriculture and allied sector to enhance crop production and farm income of farming community. The scheme envisages upgradation of knowledge and skill of the farmers to adopt advanced and innovative technologies for sustainable agriculture development.

(b)&(c) A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Support  to  State  Extension  Programs  for Extension Reforms' popularly known as ATMA Scheme is under implementation across the country since 2005. Presently, 739 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country are covered under the Scheme. The scheme promotes decentralized and demand driven farmer-friendly  extension  system  in  the  country.  Under  the  scheme  Grants-in-Aid  is released to the State Governments with an objective to supplement the efforts of State Government in disseminating latest agricultural technologies among the farmers through training, demonstrations, exposure visits, kisan mela, mobilization of 'Farmers Interest Groups'  and setting-up of Farm Schools in the field of progressive farmers.

The Government has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the Country for promotion of new agricultural technologies through technology assessment, demonstration  and  capacity  development  among  the  extension  functionaries  of  state governments and farmers. 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.

(d)   Training to farmers on Agriculture, Horticulture and allied sectors are being imparted regularly  under  various  schemes  of  the  department.  The  knowledge  and  skill  of  the farmers  are  upgraded  through  various  extension  activities  such  as  Exposure  Visits, Farmers-Scientist-Interactions, Demonstrations, Kisan Mela and Farm Schools.

During the year 2023-24, as many as 2769 number of farmers in Ramgarh, 719 number of farmers in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand State and 10025 number of famers of  Parliamentary constituency in Sidhi of Madhya Pradesh have been trained through ATMA, KVKs and other Schemes of the Department.

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