The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently initiated a cleanliness drive in several villages in Goa under its ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ scheme. Alongside this, guidance on waste disposal was also provided to the village panchayats. ICAR is an independent body functioning under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav: An Overview
Launched in 2015, the ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ scheme enables scientists to select villages at their discretion and maintain regular contact. The scientists provide the farmers with information about technical and other agricultural-related factors either through personal visits or telephone calls. The execution of these tasks is often done with the assistance of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).
The primary objective of the scheme is to champion the direct interaction of scientists with farmers, thereby accelerating the “lab to land” process.
Agriculture Technology Management Agency: Purpose and Functioning
The Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is a registered society that takes responsibility for disseminating technology at the district level. It serves as a central point for integrating research, extension, and marketing.
Launched in 2005-06, ATMA is mainly funded by the central government, which provides 90% of the funds, while the state government contributes the remaining 10%.
Objectives of Agriculture Technology Management Agency
The principal goals of ATMA include strengthening the connections between research, extension services, and farmers, and enhancing the mechanism for coordinating the activities of various agencies involved in technology adoption, validation, and dissemination at district levels and below.
ATMA also aims to improve the quality and variety of disseminated technologies, share the ownership of the agricultural technology system among key stakeholders, and foster new partnerships with private institutions, including non-governmental organizations.
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of ATMA include individual farmers, communities, women, as well as farmer and farm women groups. These beneficiaries are at the heart of ATMA’s mission to facilitate the successful adoption and use of agricultural technology to improve productivity and sustainability at the grassroots level.
