(a) whether the Government has launched any scheme to impart training to farmers in the
field of agricultural technology and handling of modern and sophisticated machinery;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the extent to which such trainings are likely to benefit the farmers for increasing
agricultural production in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): Yes, Madam,
(b): The Centrally Sponsored Schemes “Support to State Extension Programmes for
Extension Reforms†was launched in May 2005 with an objective to support State
Governments efforts of revitalization of their extension system by promoting a new
institutional arrangement for technology dissemination in the form of Agriculture
Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at district level. The scheme is currently
operational in 591 districts of the country.
Under the scheme, information on advanced agricultural technologies in
agriculture and allied sectors including machinery is disseminated amongst farmers
through various training and extension activities viz. farmers’ training, demonstrations,
exposure visits, kisan melas and farm schools etc. Over 123.20 lakh farmers including
30.56 lakh women farmers have been benefitted under the scheme during last 5 years
(Annexure-I).
As regards training on modern and sophisticated machinery, two Central Sector
Schemes namely – (i) Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization
through Training, Testing & Demonstrations and (ii) Post Harvest Technology &
Management are operational in the States. The main components of the scheme
‘Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing
& Demonstrations’ are training, testing and demonstration of agricultural equipment at
farmer’s field. The training to the farmers’ are provided at Farm Machinery Training &
Testing Institutes (FMTTI) at Budni (M.P.), Hisar (Haryana), Garlandinne (A.P.) and
Biswanath Charaiali (Assam).
Under the scheme ‘Post Harvest Technology & Management’ the training is
imparted to the farmers on the use and maintenance of technology/ equipments/
machines for post harvest management and by-product management.
(c): A Study on Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
“Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ outsourced to an
independent agency namely – ‘Agriculture Finance Corporation’ has revealed in its
draft report submitted to the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation that an increase
in overall agricultural production was reported by 25% of the total sample farmers
numbering 7875 spread over 315 villages in U.P. & Haryana.