A Study on Institutional Innovations in Technology Dissemination: A World Bank Assisted Project

In November 1998, Govt. of India initiated a project called National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) with the financial assistance from World Bank. One of the main components of this project is to pilot testing innovation to improve management of technology dissemination activities with greater accountability to stakeholders and participation by the farming community. To fulfill the requirement of this component, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) has been created at district level as an autonomous organization for technology dissemination. It has been implemented in 28 districts of 7 states with the financial provision of Rs. 124.37 crores. The scientific study of technology transfer system is essential for making the future programs more effective .keeping this in view the present study has been under taken with the following specific objectives ( 1) To asses the extent of diversification of crops due to intervention of ATMA. The study was conducted in the state of Bihar. There are 38 districts in Bihar. Out of this the ATMA project is running in 4 districts of Bihar, out of which madhubai district was purposely selected for study purpose. There are 21 blocks in Madhubani district. Out of these 4 blocks namely: Madhubani, Pandaul Khajauli and Rajnagar were selected randomly. The total number of villages in madhubani district was 1116. Out of these 80, 75,68and 72 villages exist in Madhubani, Pandaul, khajauli and Rajnagar blocks respectively. Out of these villages 10%of the total no. of villages was selected (30). The total no. of beneficiaries were 245,240,230and 235 of Madhubani, Pandaul, Khajauli and Rajnagar blocks respectively. Out of these 190 beneficiaries i.e; 20% were finally selected from each village by random sampling technique. In order to measure the extent of crops Herfidahl Index was used. The data were collected by interview method with the help of a schedule. The Herfindahl Index varied from 0.2543to0.9433in case of ATMA beneficiaries .However in case of non beneficiaries it varied from 0.3239to 0.7632. Large farmers followed 5.67%crop diversification, marginal farmersfollowed74.57%and small farmer followed 49.77%crop diversification. ATMA beneficiaries were having more net profit as compare to non beneficiaries. The study indicates that the innovations in technology dissemination component of national agriculture technology project, a world bank assisted project have established its existence and left an imprint in the study area.