Here is a list of top seven agricultural development programmes adopted in India.
1. Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP-1960):
The major outcome of the above thinking was the formulation of a strategy of intensive approach to agricultural production, specially the food grains. A new programme named as IADP was formulated which was launched gradually from 1960. The third five year plan (1961-1966) incorporated this programme into the planned development process.
This programme was popularly known as a “Package Programme”. This name was given because of the collective and simultaneous application of all practices of improved seeds, irrigation, fertilizer, plant protection, implements, credit, etc.
This programme was started in July 1960 in seven selected districts in various states.
They were:
(i) West Godavari in AP,
(ii) Shahabad in Bihar,
(iii) Tanjore in Tamil Nadu,
(iv) Raipur in MP,
(v) Ludhiana in Punjab;
(vi) Pali in Rajasthan; and
(vii) Aligarh in UP.
The Criteria for Selection of Districts:
1. Districts with high potentially for increasing the yield in short time i.e. with assured irrigation facilities and minimum natural hazards
2. Districts with well-developed Panchayats and Cooperatives
IADP is popularly known as Package Programme because of the collective and simultaneous application of all improved package of practices namely improved seed, irrigation, fertilizers, plant protection, implements, storage facilities, marketing facilities, credit etc.
Objectives:
(i) To achieve rapid increase in the level of agriculture production through a concentration of financial, technical, extension and administrative resources;
(ii) To achieve a self-generating breakthrough in productivity and to raise the production potential by stimulating the human and physical process of change; and
(iii) To demonstrate the most effective ways of increasing production and thus, to provide lessons for extending such intensified agricultural production programmes to other areas.
Weaknesses:
i. Educational approach to reach the cultivators was lacking,
ii. Poor trainings to staff.
iii. Staff was not clear about the methods to reach the cultivators,
iv. Posting of staff was not adequate and timely
v. Workshop, seed testing and soil testing laboratories were not functioning to the required level and transport and land development programmes were not progressing satisfactorily.
Inspite of these limitations IADP created a new dynamism in the fanning community, greatly enhanced the use of technical inputs and also contributed to the growth of marketing and storage facilities as well as supporting services.
Other Achievements are:
1. Technical assistance was given to farmers in preparing production plans.
2. The cultivators were provided simultaneously with all supplies and services at right time and in adequate quantities through cooperatives.
3. Credit was given to all who had their production plans and participated in the programme.
4. Marketing and storage facilities were developed with in bullock cart distance.
5. Covered all the important cash crops grown in the districts all though emphasis was laid on the increase of food grain crops.
2. High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP-1966):
HYVP is launched in 1966, which helped the country in attaining self-sufficiency in food. The technological development did not remain confined to the introduction of high yielding crop varieties alone. These were combined with the application of high analysis and balanced fertilizer, irrigation, plant protection, improved implements etc. which made a ‘Green revolution’ possible in the country. The pervasive influence of high yielding technology spread to other areas of farm production such as animal production, such as animal production, fishery, sericulture, social forestry etc.
Punjab, Haryana and Western parts of UP were initially selected for the phased launching of this strategy. The cultivation of HYV since 1966-67 had resulted in a substantial increase in food grains production. Wheat production was doubled. Rice production also had a substantial increase, though not as much as in the case of wheat.
The target of coverage of 2.5 crore hectares of area under HYVs of cereals and millets under fourth five year plan was exceeded. The coverage was more than four crore hectares.
3. Institution Village Linkage Programme (IVLP- 1995-96):
IVLP is an innovative program developed by the ICAR to help scientists to have direct interaction with the farming community so that appropriate technologies are developed for fanners. Here research, extension and farmers establish firm links by earning together the assessment and refinement functions in the technology development and dissemination process.
This helps the research system to generate a cafeteria of technologies, which are more productive in small production system, more profitable in commercial production system and gender sensitive for removal of drudgery of farmwomen.
Research and Extension as an Integral Part of Technology Development:
Objectives of IVLP as per ICAR guidelines are as follows:
i. To introduce technological intervention with emphasis on stability and sustainability along with productivity of small production systems.
ii. To introduce and integrate the appropriate technologies to sustain technological interventions and their integration to maintain productivity and profitability taking environmental issues into consideration in a comparatively well-defined production system.
iii. To introduce and integrate the appropriate technologies to increase the agricultural productivity with marketable surplus in commercial on and off-farm production systems.
iv. To facilitate adoption of appropriate post-harvest technologies for conservation and on farm value addition to agricultural products, byproducts and waste for greater economic dividend and national priorities.
v. To facilitate adoption of appropriate technologies for removal of drudgery, increase efficiency and higher income of farm women.
vi. To monitor socio-economic impact of the technological / technology modules based on environmental at meso and mega levels.
Methodology of implementation of IVLP as per ICAR guidelines are given below:
i. Selection of Participating Institutions:
a. ICAR and ICAR Institutes
b. SAUs & their Regional Research Stations / Zonal Research Stations.
c. Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Based on availability of multi-disciplinary team of scientists, laboratory facilities and transport etc.
One village or a cluster of villages to cover about 1000 farm families.
a. The selected village should not be far away from the research station
b. Should have asses through road
c. Should be a relatively poorly developed in agriculture
iii. Agro-Eco-System Analysis:
Using Participatory Rural Appraisal Methods to gather information about –
a. The resource availability with the farmer’s present production practices
b. The extent of impact of the previous programs in the area
iv. Constitution of Multi-Disciplinary Team of Scientists:
Core Team:
Those scientists whose disciplines are essentially needed Optional team: The other disciplines depending upon the needs of the area.
v. Selection of Team Leader
vi. Provide Training to the Multi-Disciplinary Team
vii. Plan for Technology Assessment and Refinement:
a. Intervention points based on problem – cause analysis
b. Basket approach considering the problems
c. Weightage to indigenous knowledge
viii. Implementation of Action Plan:
a. On-farm research
b. Demonstration
c. On-farm trials
ix. Monitoring and Evaluation:
a. Regular visit of team members
b. Technical staff posted for the village
c. IVLP card separately devised for the purpose
4. National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP- June, 30 1998):
The National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) is a dynamic instrument of introducing major changes in the Agricultural Research and Extension systems of the country, besides developing their capabilities to meet future challenges. The project was initiated by Ministry of Agriculture, Govt, of India with the financial assistance of World Bank and would be implemented with the assistance of MANAGE in 28 districts covering 7 states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Punjab over a period of 5 years (1998-2003).The World Bank assisted National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) aims at improving research and extension services.
The Research component of NATP is being implemented by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Extension component by the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation.
The different Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) involved in implementation of the ITD component of NATP are:
(i) Directorate of Extension (DOE)
(ii) National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)
(iii) NATP cell at State Head Quarters
(iv) State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI)
(v) District Level Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs)
The Extension component termed as “Innovations in Technology Dissemination”(ITD) envisages an integrated extension delivery at district level and is being pilot tested in seven participating states, viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Punjab.
Four districts in each of the seven participating states are identified for pilot testing as detailed below:
i. Andhra Pradesh – Kurnool. Prakasam, Adilabad and Chittoor
ii. Bihar – Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Munger, Patna Rural
iii. Jharkhand – Dumka, Jamtara, Palamau, Chaibara
iv. Himachal Pradesh – Shimla, Hamirpur, Kangra, Bilaspur
v. Maharashtra – Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Aurangabad and Ratnagiri
vi. Orissa – Khurda, Koraput, Ganjam, Sambhalpur
vii. Punjab – Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Sangrur and Faridkot
Objectives:
The major objective of this component is:
1. To accelerate the flow of technology form research, and extension to farmer.
2. Improve the dissemination of location specific and sustainability enhancing technologies.
3. Decentralize technical and decision making authority to the district level.
4. Create a more effective and financially sustainable public extension system.
5. Step up the privatization of certain technology transfer activities.
Salient Features:
i. Pilot testing new institutional arrangements for technology dissemination at the district level and below through establishment of district Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA).
ii. Moving towards integrated extension delivery.
iii. Bottom up planning procedures for setting the Research Extension agendas.
iv. Addressing gender concern in agriculture and
v. Increasing use of information technology for effective dissemination.
5. Watershed Development Programme (WDP):
The Department of Land Resources in the Ministry’ of Rural Development is administering three area-based watershed programmes for development of wastelands/degraded lands namely Drought Prone Areas Programmes (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) to check the diminishing productivity of wasteland and loss of natural resources.
The DPAP was launched in 1973-74 to tackle the special problems faced by those areas that are constantly afflicted by drought conditions. DDP was launched in 1977-78 to mitigate the adverse effects of desertification. Presently, 235 blocks of 40 districts in 7 States are covered under the Programme. IWDP has been under implementation since 1989-90. The projects under the IWDP are generally sanctioned in areas that are not covered under DDP or DPAP.
Since 1 April 1995, these three programmes are being implemented on the basis of Common Guidelines for Watershed Development.
Details of projects sanctioned and funds released from 1995-96 to 2007-2008 are as under:
The projects under DPAP and DDP are sanctioned for 500 ha. each while the IWDP projects cover an area of 5000-6000 ha. The cost norms for all the three schemes have been revised to Rs. 6000 per ha. Under DPAP and DDP, it is shared between the Centre and the States in ratio of 75:25. In case of IWDP, the cost sharing between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 11:1.
Funds are released in seven installments, six installments at the rate of 15 per cent and the last installment at the rate of 10 per cent.
The first installment is released along with the initial sanction-order and subsequent installments on receipt of utilization for 50 per cent of the available funds as well as the following documents:
i. Quarterly Progress Reports
ii. Utilization Certificates
iii. The Audited Statement of Accounts for the previous years and
iv. Evidence of satisfactory completion of institutional arrangements
v. Projects are implemented by District Rural Development Agencies/Zilla Parishads (DRDAs/ZPs) through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). PIAs could be a Line Department (of the State Government), Panchayati Raj Institutions or a reputed NGO.
One PIA normally handles 10-12 watershed projects covering an area of about 5000-6000 hectares. The PIA is required to maintain a technical team of 4 experts called Watershed Development Team (WDT) and individual projects (500 hectares) are planned and executed by the local people living in the watershed area called the Watershed Association (WA) through an elected body called Watershed Committee (WC).
The Department of Land Resources has brought out a new initiative called Hariyali with an objective of empowering PRIs both financially and administratively in implementation of Watershed Development Programmes. Under this initiative, all ongoing area development programmes namely.
Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) are to be implemented through the PRIs. New projects under the aforesaid area development programmes are being implemented in accordance with the guidelines for Hariyali from 1 April 2003. Projects sanctioned prior to this date shall continue to be implemented as per the Watershed Development Guide lines of 2001.
In the new arrangement Gram Panchayats shall implement projects under overall supervision and guidance of Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs). An intermediate Panchayat may be the PIA for all the projects sanctioned to a particular Block/Taluka. In case, these Panchayats are not adequately empowered, then the Zilla Panchayat can either act as PIA itself or may appoint a suitable Line Department like Agriculture, Forestry /Social Forestry.
Soil Conservation, etc., or an Agency of the State Government/ University/Institute as PIA. Failing these options, the ZP/DRDA may consider appointing a reputed Non-Government Organization (NGO) in the district with adequate experience and expertise in the implementation of watershed projects or related area development works as the PIA after thoroughly examining their credentials.
The Project Implementing Agency (PIA) will provide necessary technical guidance to the Gram Panchayat for preparation of development plans for the watershed through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise, undertake community organisation and training for the village communities, supervise watershed development activities, inspect and authenticate project accounts.
6. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA-1999):
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is one of the innovations technology dissemination components of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) functions as a registered society at District level and serves as a focal point for integrating research and extension activities and helps in decentralizing the management of agricultural technology transfer.
The members -of ATMA include the representatives of Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, and Fisheries. Each research- extension unit would retain its institutional identity and the management committee of ATMA would plan extension activities. At present ATMA is in operation in twenty-four district spread over six states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
1. To strengthen research – extension – fanner linkages
2. To provide an effective mechanism for co-ordination and management of activities of different agencies involved in technology adaption / validation and dissemination at the district level and below.
3. To increase the quality and type of technologies being disseminated.
4. To move towards shared ownership of the agricultural technology system by key shareholders.
5. To develop new partnerships with the private institutions including NGOs.
Constitution:
Under ATMA there is a provision for Governing Board which functions as a policy making body and provides guidance as well as reviews progress and functioning of ATMA. A separate Management Committee constituted under ATMA would be responsible for planning and reviewing of the day to day activities.
The composition and key functions of Governing Board and Management Committee as per ICAR (1998), NATP document are given below:
ATMA Governing Board Composition:
1. District magistrate / Collector- Chairman
2. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Vice-Chairman
3. Joint Director / Deputy Director (Agri.) – Member
4. A member from ZRS / KVk – Member
5. One farmer representative – Member
6. One livestock producer – Member
7. One horticulture farmer – Member
8. Representative of women farmer interest group – Member
9. One SC/ST farmer representative – Member
10. A Representative of NGO – Member
11. Lead Bank Officer of the District – Member
12. A representative of NGO – Member
13. Representative of Input Supply Association – Member
14. Representative if Input Supply Association – Member
15. Project Director of ATMA – Member
16. One Fisheries / Sericulture representative- Member-Secretary- Cum Treasurer Member
Key Functions:
The key function of ATMA Governing Board would include the following functions and tasks:
1. Review and approve strategic and annual work plans that are prepared and submitted by the participating units.
2. Receive and review annual reports carried out by the participating units, providing feedback and direction to the participating units, a needed, about the various research and extension activities being carried out within the district.
3. Receive and allocate project funds to earn out priority research, extension and related activities within the District.
4. Foster the organization and development of farmer’s interest groups and farmer’s organization within the district.
5. Facilitate the greater involvement of private sector and firms and organizations in providing inputs, technical support, agro-forestry and marketing services to farmers.
6. Encourage agriculture lending institutions to increase the availability of capital to resource poor and marginal farmers, especially children and women farmers.
7. Encourage each line department, plus the KVK and ZRS to establish farmer advisory committee to provide feedback and input into their respective research and extension programme.
8. Enter into contract and agreements as appropriate to promote and support agricultural development activity within district.
9. Identify other sources of financial support that would help ensure the financial sustainability of ATMA and its participating units.
10. Establishing revolving funds / accounts for each participating unit, and encourage each unit to make available technical services, such as artificial insemination or soil testing, on a cost recovery basis moving towards full cost recovery in a phased manner.
11. Arrange for the periodic audit of ATMA’s financial accounts and
12. Adopt and amend the rules and by-laws for the ATMA
Management Committee:
Composition:
1. Project Director ATMA – Chairman
2. District head of Dept. of Agriculture – Member
3. District head of Dept. of Horticulture – Member
4 District head of Dept. of Animal Husbandry – Member
5. District head of Dept. of Fisheries – Member
6. District head of Dept. of Sericulture – Member
7. District head of Dept. of appropriate line department that may be important within the district
8. Head, KVK/ZRS – Member
9. One representative of NGO, in charge of Farmer’s organization – Member
10. Two representatives of fanner’ organizations (One year rotation basis) – Member
Key Functions:
The key functions and task to be carried out by the ATMA management committee would include the following:
1. Carry out periodic Participatory Rural Appraisal to identify the problems and constraints faced by different socio-economic groups and fanners within the district.
2. Prepare an integrated, strategic technology plan for the district that would specify short and medium term adaptive research as well as technology validation and refinement and extension priorities for the district, these priorities should reflect the important farmer’s constraints, identified during the PRA.
3. Prepare annual work plans that would be submitted to ATMA Governing Board for review position, modification and approval.
4. Maintain appropriate project accounts for submission to technology dissemination unit for audit purposes.
5. Coordinate the execution of this annual work plan through participant line departments, ZRS, KVKs, NGOs, FIGs /FOs and allied institutions, including private sector firms.
6. Establish coordinating mechanism at the block level, such as Farmer Advisory Centre, that would integrate extension and technology transfer activities at the block and village levels.
7. Provide annual performance reports to the Governing Board outlining the various research, extension and related activities that were actually carried out, including target achieved.
8. Provide secretariat to governing board and initiate action or policy direction, investment decision and other guidance received from the board.
Salient Features of ATMA:
1. Creating Fanner Advisory Committee to improve feedback.
2. Using NGOs to organize farmers.
3. Encouraging private sector involvement in technology transfer.
4. Validation and refining technologies through research units in the district.
5. Bottom up planning procedure.
6. Increased use of Information Technology
7. In-service training to increase staff competence.
8. Developing new Public-Private partnerships.
9. Formation and strengthening of farmer’s interest group.
Process of Working of ATMA:
i. Diagnostic survey by researchers and extension worker along with other government staff from the agriculture and other line departments, NGOs and representatives of corporate sector processors, input suppliers, bank and farmer representatives using PRA techniques.
ii. Identification of problems currently affecting the technology dissemination system and limiting its performance of sustainability.
iii. Determination of the main opportunities and constraints (markets, input supplies, financial and social factors, the natural resource base etc.) that should be considered for development planning.
iv. Formulation of Strategic Adaptive Research and Extension Plan for the District, setting out technical objectives as well as innovations to be introduced into the organizations and funding of technology dissemination.
v. Preparation of specific action plus implementation responsibilities of the public sector and other stockholders for the specific year.
vi. Arranging technical programs covering the need for adaptive research, farmer participatory trials, demonstration, field days and the development of extension recommendation for the coming season.
7. Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC-1999):
At present, there are 44 ATICs established in ICAR institutes and SAUs. The Agricultural Technology Information Centres (ATICs) are established to provide greater coordination and intensive interaction between the researchers and technology users beyond individual units of research institutions in contributing towards the dissemination of information.
Each ATIC will serve as a “Single Window System” with an objective to help Farmers and other stake holders such as Farmer- Entrepreneurs, Extension workers, Development agencies, Non- Government Agencies (NGOs) and private sector organizations to provide solutions to their location – specific problems in agriculture and make available all the technological information along with technology inputs and products for testing and use by them.
The ATICs need to be demand driven and well integrated with research and financially sustainable, lay greater emphasis on location-specific and system based sustainable technologies. ATIC; ANGRAU started functioning from 1-1-1999 at Rajendranagar. ATIC disseminates technologies through: Office calls, Telephone calls, Personal letters, Expert node, Diagnostic services, Supply and Sale of technological inputs.
Specifically, the ATICs Provide:
Diagnostic services for soil testing, plant and livestock health, a supply research products such as seeds, planting materials, livestock breeds, poultry strains, fish seed, processed products etc., emerging from an institution for testing and adaptation by various clientele. b. Disseminate information through published literature, audio – visual aids and electronic media, provide an opportunity to institutions for resource generation through sale of their technologies and support the district level Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs) in technology dissemination wherever they are available. ATIC’S are located in 21 states viz., Tamil Nadu (2) Andhra Pradesh (1), Andaman & Nicobar (1), Assam(1), Bihar(1), Gujarat(1), Haryana(2), Himachal Pradesh(3), Jammu & Kashmir(1), Karnataka(3), Kerala(5), Madhya Pradesh(3), Maharashtra(5), Meghalaya(1), New Delhi(1), Orissa(1), Punjab(1), Rajasthan(2), Uttaranchal(1), Uttar Pradesh(3) and West Bengal(1).
One of the key indicators of success of ATIC will be number of farmers and farmer groups visiting the centre, the sale of materials, the number of farmers trained per year and the kind of technological feedback received, documented and passed on to the research- extension systems.