Extension reforms were undertaken by making the extension system farmer driven and farmer accountable through process and institutional reforms mechanism. This institutional reforms mechanism is in the form of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at district level. It is a district level public extension agency responsible for technology management and dissemination activities at the district level. ATMA model is adopting an integrated extension delivery system at the district level and before by establishing an autonomous registered society with representation from the various stake holders in Agricultural Development. ATMA is supervised and monitor by SAMETI.
Functions
- Strategic Planning function - Preparation of strategic Research & Extension Plans (SREPs).
- Networking and Co-ordination function - Networking and co-ordination of all stakeholders in agriculture establishing effective linkages.
- Integrated extension delivery function - Integration of multi-agency extension strategies.
- Information management Function - involving collection, compilation and dissemination of relevant information on agricultural technology.
- Farmer facilitation and empowerment function - for facilitating empowerment of the farming community.
- Training and capacity building function - Knowledge and skill upgradation of farmers and extension functionaries.
- Fund Management Function - As a society it can receive and expend funds, enter into contracts and agreements and maintain accounts.
- Participatory Technology Development function - to generate appropriate technologies with the involvement of all stakeholders.
- Monitoring and Evaluation function - to undertake monitoring and evaluation studies for suitable modification and refinement of future programmes.
