ATMA Scheme: How to Avail Funds

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is a district-level public extension agency that is responsible for technology management and dissemination activities at the district level. It is supervised and monitored by State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI).

ATMA has active participation of farmers or farmer groups, NGOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Panchayati Raj Institutions, and other stakeholders operating at the district level and levels below. At present, it is under implementation in more than 600 districts in the country.

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme

The ATMA scheme launched in 2005-2006, aims at offering technical advice and training to farmers regarding new agricultural practices and technologies. It performs the following activities in accomplishing its objectives in benefitting the farmers. It includes:

• Clustering all the non-government organizations functioning in the UTs, States, districts, or villages

• Educating and training the farmers about technological upgradation by involving and encouraging private institutions

• Certifying and improving technologies through research units in the district and block levels

• Enhancing the planning procedure to improve productivity

• Providing further training for the stakeholders and assisting them in rendering global competence

• Creating more farmers’ groups and strengthening them with innovative ideas and methodologies

• Generating new partnerships between private and public parties.

ATMA Scheme: Allocation of Funds

The Central Government allocates 90% of the fund, as a grant-in-aid, to all the States/UTs. The rest 10% of the fund is provided by the State governments. The 10% share from the State Government is input from the cash contribution of the state or the contribution from other beneficiaries and non-government organizations.

A total amount of Rs 226.07 crores is sanctioned under the scheme. The funds are allocated and shared between the Centre, State, and District in the following ratio:

• An amount of Rs. 167.56 crores amounting to 77.53% has been allocated for district-level programmes

• An amount of Rs. 22.15 crores amounting to 10.25% has been allocated for State level programmes

• An amount of Rs. 26.41 crores amounting to 12.22% shall be available under the control of the Government of India.  This amount shall be utilized for innovative activities to be approved by the Government of India. 

The ATMA scheme empowers farm women groups and not just farmers. It creates awareness about new technologies through visits, fairs, and melas. It also provides demand-driven training to farm women and farmers.