A.K. AGARWAL JOINT SECRETARY, DAC

1. A.K. AGARWAL JOINT SECRETARY, DAC REVITALIZATION OF EXTENSION SYSTEM

2. TASK AT HAND • 1200 lakh farm holdings. • 127 agro-eco sub-zones. • 51 agriculture crops. • 202 horticulture crops. • 3706 varieties. • 55% rainfed areas. • Competitive market.

3. AVAILABLE EXTENSION FUNCTIONARIES • Government - Block level : 29757 - Village level : 79575 • KVKs - 3000 • Agri-preneurs - 4000 • Input dealers - 300000 • Progressive farmers • Others - FOs, private sector, NGOs, etc.

4. AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION – XI PLAN APPROACH PAPER • Revitalize extension system focusing on known technologies. • Improve research extension linkages. • Converge schemes of Ministry of Agriculture. • Encourage partnership between Civil Society Organizations and Government/PRIs. • Mainstream gender concerns.

5. FINANCE MINISTER’S BUDGET SPEECH • DAC to consult States and draw a new programme that will replicate T&V with suitable changes. • ATMAs to be expanded to additional 300 districts. • Budgetary provision for ATMA raised from Rs.50 crore to Rs.230 crore for 2007-08

6. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON FARMERS – DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY FOR FARMERS • Retrain and retool existing extension functionaries. • Promote farmer to farmer learning through outstanding farmers and awardees of nationally recognized awards for farmers. • Promote crop – livestock integrated farming system. • Provide power of scale to small farmers. • Set up a system to recognize farm graduate as registered farm practioners and also to ensure the quality and credibility of the services provided by them. • Encourage partnership between young entrepreneurs and private sector. • Right information at right time - Harness Mass Media – Radio, TV, local newspapers and ICT.

7. CHANGES TO T&V SYSTEM - I • T&V System - Village Extension Worker (VEW) was the most important link at the field level. • Extension Reforms – • Extension functionaries belonging to both governmental and non-governmental sectors would be involved in providing extension support. • The National Commission on Farmers (NCF) has observed that farmer-to-farmer learning is the most credible and effective. Large number of progressive farmers would be integrated into the extension system. • Agriculture graduates would be used extensively in implementing extension activities. As recommended by the NCF, a system to recognize agriculture graduates as Registered Farm Practitioners and also to ensure the quality and credibility of the services provided by them. • PPP in extension to be strongly encouraged. • Other non-governmental extension functionaries to be involved in extension would include input dealers, NGOs, cooperatives, PRIs, etc.

8. CHANGES TO T&V SYSTEM - II • T&V System – VEWs were given one day fortnightly training on subject matters at block/district level. • Extension Reforms – • Extension functionaries belonging to both the governmental and non-governmental sectors would be given training. • Training needs would be identified based on Strategic Research and Extension Plans (SREPs). • Training would be given at District, State and National level training institutions. SAUs and KVKs would have an important role in this regard.

9. CHANGES TO T&V SYSTEM – III (a) • T&V System – VEWs had the target of visiting contact farmers in villages so that each contact farmer was covered at least once in a week or a fortnight depending on the situation. • Extension Reforms – • Focus on rainfed areas. • Extension efforts to be targeted on Commodity Interest Groups (CIGs) of farmers to provide them, inter-alia, power of scale. • Farmers’ participation in planning, decision making and implementation. • Farming systems approach and convergence of activities of allied departments. • Demand driven extension and incorporation of marketing concerns into extension efforts. • Public – private – partnership in extension. • KVKs may develop and disseminate farming system based innovations through continuous assessment and refinement.

10. CHANGES TO T&V SYSTEM – III (b) • It has been observed by the NCF that “seeing and harvesting is believing”. Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) would be promoted in the field of CIGs leaders. • Farm Schools would provide season long extension support to CIG leaders and other farmers. It would include training/interaction at least once in a fortnight. • CIGs would be mandated to provide extension support to other farmers in the same/ neighbouring villages. • Exposure visits and various forms of research-extension-farmer interactions would provide additional extension support. • Use of ICT and Mass Media.

11. KEY REFORMS BEINGPROMOTED UNDERATMA PROGRAMME • Decentralized planning, decision making and implementation. • Multi-Agency extension system – minimum 10% allocation for non-governmental sector. • Convergence of activities of line departments, in gap-filling mode. • Promoting Commodity Interest Groups of farmers (CIGs) - provide them power of scale. • Farming systems approach. • Encouragement to women farmers - minimum 30% allocation. • Sustainability – minimum 10% beneficiary contribution.

12. STRENGTHENING OF ATMA PROGRAMME – EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - I • Ongoing reforms under ATMA programme to continue. • At least proportionate extension resources to be utilized for rainfed areas. • Marketing concerns to be duly incorporated into extension efforts. • Front Line Demonstrations in the field of CIG leaders. • Promotion of Farm Schools at Block/Gram Panchayat level for providing season long, and at least once in a fortnight, extension support to CIG leaders and other FLD farmers. • CIGs to provide extension support to other farmers in the same/neighbouring villages.

13. STRENGTHENING OF ATMA PROGRAMME – EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - II • Farmer Awards to be instituted at Block, District and State levels. • Extension functionaries of both government and non-government sectors to be provided training at District/State/ National level training institutions. • One year diploma on Agriculture Extension Management for Extension Functionaries would be launched by MANAGE in distance education mode. • Exposure visits and various farms of research – extension-farmer interactions would provide additional extension support. • ‘Innovative Window’ under ATMA programme is already available for implementing innovative activities. • KVKs may develop and disseminate farming system based innovations through continuous assessment and refinement.

14. STRENGTHENING OF ATMA PROGRAMME – DELIVERY MECHANISM - I • Dedicated team of full time officers and staff at State HQs to lead implementation. • Dedicated team of full time faculty and staff to implement and coordinate training and capacity building efforts in the State. • Dedicated team of full time officers and staff at District ATMAs to lead implementation. At least one full time officer may be from the research system. • Block Technology Team (BTT) members to devote maximum time for providing extension support. • Agriculture graduates to be extensively used in implementation of extension activities. They may be compensated on service charge basis.

15. STRENGTHENING OF ATMA PROGRAMME – DELIVERY MECHANISM - II • ICAR may set up a system to recognize agriculture graduates as Registered Farm Practitioners and also to ensure the quality and credibility of the services provided by them. • Farm Schools to be promoted at Gram Panchayat/Block level in the fields of outstanding farmers and awardees of nationally recognized awards for farmers. KVK scientists, BTT members and other extension functionaries would contribute to the running of Farm Schools. • CIGs to have responsibility for providing extension support to other farmers in the same/neighbouring villages. • Public Private Partnership in extension to be strongly encouraged. • ICAR to digitize available knowledge in a farmer friendly manner.

16. THANK YOU