EMN
Dimapur, January 20
Members of the Agriculture Technology Management Agency of Kohima district undertook a tour recently to Kolkata as part of efforts to ‘improve farming practices.’
The members of the unit had the objective to be exposed to new environment and to improve farming practices, a press release from the group stated on Wednesday, January 20. The ‘exposure tour’ to Kolkata began from January 12 and culminated on the 16th.
“The team consisting of ten members visited The Central Institute of Fisheries and Education, Kolkatta where the officials interacted with Br. B K Mahapotra, principal scientist and his staffs. The team toured the institute and visited the fish museum, laboratories and machineries for processing of value added fish products,” the press release stated.
The visit to various places was very educational and a good exposure for the team, the group added.
Citizens’ Factfile: What is the ATMA and what does it do?
ATMA is a society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable agriculture development in the district. It is a focal point for integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralizing day-to- day management of the public Agricultural Technology System (ATS).
It is a registered society responsible for technology dissemination at the district level. As a whole the ATMA would be a facilitating agency rather than implementing Agency. The funds allotted for ATMA includes Establishment of ATMA office at district headquarters, strengthening of line departments by providing infrastructural facilities, establishing FIACsThe ATMA will not encourage any practice or program which, the line departments were already initiated. With the minimum budget, ATMA can introduce or demonstrate some of the programs as innovative model, which can be replicated by farmers’ organizations.
Objectives of the ATMA
The aims and objectives for which the ATMA is formed are:
• To identify location specific needs of farming community for farming system based agricultural development
• To set up priorities for sustainable agricultural development with a Farming Systems Approach
• To draw plans for production based system activities to be undertaken by farmers/ultimate users
• To execute plans through line departments, training institutions, NGOs, farmers organizations and allied institutions
• To coordinate efforts being made by various line departments, NGOs, farmers organizations and allied institutions to strengthen research extension-farmers linkages in the district and to promote collaboration and coordination between various State funded technical departments
• To facilitate the empowerment of farmers/producers through assistance for mobilization, organization into associations, cooperatives etc. for their increased participation in planning, marketing, technology dissemination and agro-processing etc.
• To facilitate market interventions for value addition to farm produce
