Farmers’ Perception on Functioning of ATMA in Bihar: An Empirical Study

One of the components of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) is Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) under Innovation Technology Dissemination (ITD). ATMA is a society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural services for sustainable agricultural development in the district. It established linkages rendering with agriculture department, agricultural universities, Colleges, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Research Stations for coherence in technology diffusion. The present study was carried out in Araria, Aurangabad, Banka, Katihar, Khagaria and Purnea districts of Bihar state. From each district one block is selected purposely and from each block 20 respondents were selected randomly, hence the total respondents were one hundred and twenty. From the study it was found that 75 per cent of farmers perceived the technology due to the ATMA delivery system in the district. The extent of impact of ATMA deliver system in introducing new crop varieties and technologies is medium to high. It is also noted that participatory extension & planning positively and significantly correlated with the indicator’s indices. It is observed from the study that reforms in participatory planning (54.17%), formation and effective implementation of group approach (71.66) and farmer to farmer extension (77.5%), can satisfy higher expectation of farming community; however, farm empowerment (54.17%) and implementation of innovative activities (54.17%) that had low impact on satisfying farmers expectation. The important suggestions of the farmers for better functioning of ATMA were to promote Agri-entrepreneurship, strengthening market network, formation and strengthening of group approach, equality and balance in beneficiary selection.