Question : AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTRES

(a) the details of Agriculture Technology Information Centres set up in Chhattisgarh, location-wise;

(b) the details of the expenditure incurred by the Government for the above purpose during the last three years and the current year; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to provide training to farmers about the new technology?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) & (b) As part of Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD) component of National Agricultural Technology Project, one Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) was established by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur. There was provision for providing one time grant for establishment of the ATIC. During the current year, the Government of Chhattisgarh has provided an amount of Rs.100 lakh from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna funds to the IGKV, Raipur for strengthening its Directorate of Extension including ATIC.

(c) A Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms”, popularly known as the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme, is under implementation in 614 districts of 28 States and 3 UTs of the country. The objective of the scheme is to support State Governments efforts of revitalization of the extension system, and making available the latest agriculture and allied technologies in different agro-climatic conditions through extension activities such as farmers training, demonstrations, exposure visits, Kisan Melas, mobilization of farmers groups and setting up of Farm Schools. Besides, there are Extension/Transfer of Technology Division in all ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities. ICAR has also set up a network of 630 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the country to assess, refine and demonstrate agricultural technologies; to provide training to farmers; and to make them aware on latest agricultural technologies through extension programmes.