Study of Effective Implementation of Agricultural Technology Management Agency through Case Studies in Bihar

The present study was formulated to document the successful and unsuccessful cases of implementation of Strategic Research and Extension Plan under ATMA in Bihar to identify the important lessons in terms of facilitating and hindering factors for success in agri-entrepreneurship. Study was undertaken in Patna and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar. From these districts, two Farmers Interest Groups and two individual farmers were purposively selected as per discussion with ATMA officials for in-depth study. The data were collected from selected farmers and farm women through personal interview and focused group discussion. Three successful and one unsuccessful case were documented. After analyzing the successful cases it was found that ‘formation of commodity specific farmers group’, ‘providing training and exposure visit to these farmers on new enterprises such as cultivation of high value vegetable crops, mushroom cultivation and bee keeping’, ‘providing them technical as well as financial support through banks’ and ‘helping them market their produce’ were the major factors which contributed to the success of individual or farmer's group. It was also found that linkage of farmers with KVK scientists, BTT members, ATMA officials at district level and officers of agriculture/horticulture departments were crucial to the success of individual farmers/farmers group.

Mobilization of farmers and farm women into FIGs/SHGs, providing them training on new technology and promoting them to start their own agri-enterprise has started to pay rich dividends.

Bee keeping and mushroom cultivation also turned out as potential ventures to get supplementary income throughout the year