Lok Sabha Question No. 1511 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Coordination Among Different Agricultural Research Agencies
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1511 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/07/2016

## COORDINATION AMONG DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AGENCIES

## 1511. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there is inconsistency and time lag in coordination among different agencies responsible for transmitting information and research on agriculture and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has devised any corrective measures to improve the coordination among the agencies responsible for transmitting information under the Department  of  Agriculture  Research  and  Education  (DARE),  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  and  funds  utilized  by  the DARE during the last three years?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k ,oa fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) & (b): The  Department  of  Agricultural  Research  and  Education  (DARE) coordinates and promotes agricultural research & education in the country. DARE provides the necessary government linkages for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the premier research organisation for co-ordinating, guiding and managing  research,  education  and  extension  in  agriculture  including  horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 102 research institutes and 73  agricultural  universities  spread  across  the  country,  the  National  Agricultural

Research  System  (NARS)  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world.  While  the  ICAR Institutes have the Departments of Extension, the Agricultural Universities have the directorates  of  extension  to  identify,  test  and  refine  the  transferable  agricultural technologies  and  other  related  information  emanating  from  research  as  well  as  to establish  effective  liaison  among  various  departments  and  other  stakeholders  both the public and private for their transfer.

To  ensure  effective  transfer  of  the  technologies  and  scientific  information related to the farm sector to the farmers, line departments and other end users at the district level, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network  of  645  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the  country.  The  KVKs  are mandated to conduct frontline extension through the assessment and demonstration of technologies/products and its dissemination through number  of extension programmes  including  training  of  farmers  through  specific  training  programmes developed  by  KVKs  on  improved  technologies  related  to  agriculture  and  allied fields, benefiting the farmers in terms of increased crop production as well as farm income.

To coordinate, monitor and implement the activities by KVKs in their respective zone,  11  Agricultural  Technology  Application  Research  Institutes  (ATARIs)  have been  setup  at  zonal  level.    At  state  level,  the  responsibility  of  coordination  and monitoring  is  with  Directors  of  Extension  of  State  Agricultural  Universities  in coordination with ATARI. For effective monitoring of mandated activities of KVKs, a local monitoring committee at State Agricultural University level is formed. The Quarterly  review  of  KVKs  is  done  by  Vice-Chancellor  of  respective  SAUs  to monitor the technical, administrative, financial and developmental activities. KVKs conduct  one  Scientific  Advisory  Committee  meeting  every  year  to  monitor  the progress of technical, administrative, financial and developmental activities.

The  KVKs  function  in  close  harmony  and  partnership  with  all  developmental agencies/organizations, farmers and other stakeholders. KVKs  also provide technological  backstopping  to  'Agriculture  Technology  Management  Agencies' (ATMA),  a  scheme  funded  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) and other agencies at the district level. A district level Joint Action Plan for enhancing interface between scientists, extension functionaries and farmers is prepared through a joint meeting of KVK and ATMA officials under the chairmanship of the District Collector. A quarterly interface meeting, involving all line departments of the district, is held by all KVKs  to  monitor the implementation  of  the  Joint  Action  Plan  and  to  share  new  information  and technologies for wider dissemination in the district.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  also  maintains  effective  linkages with  other  key  programs  of  the  Government of  India  like  RKVY,  MNREGA and NHM and other extension activities including those related to public sector, farmers' organizations,  NGOs,  Commodity  Boards  and  private  sector.  ICAR  contributes through  technology  backstopping  in  the  National  Rabi  and  Kharif  conferences organized every year in which extension agencies from all the states also participate.

Besides,  the  Agricultural  Technology  Information  Centres  (ATIC)  are  also established at various ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities which function as  'single  window'  support  system  linking  various  units  of  a  research  institution with intermediary users and end users (farmers). They provide advisories, inputs and diagnostic services for soil and water testing, plant and livestock health as well as provide  information  through  published  literature  and  communication  materials  as well as audio-visual aids.

(c) The details of the funds allocated/ utilised by DARE during last three years are given below:

(` in crore)

|                   |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Revised Estimates |   2600    |   2500    |      3000 |
| Expenditure       |   2469.17 |   2268.57 |      2900 |

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