Index
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Important crops
Benefits of training
Women participation
Examples of adoption
Structure of ATMA
Lacuna
New initiatives
Recommendations
Way forward
Acknowledgement
This action research study report is result of intense field visits and discussion with the
stakeholders of ATMA programme. I wish to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Arun Joshi,
Head NLRI, Mr. Yash Kanongo, HRM, Dr. Varan Singh under whose guidance I completed
research. I am also greatful to Dr. Praveen Ghotkar, Mr. Ajay Pal Singh and whole faculty for
their guidance.
I am highly grateful to villagers of Sailana, Baajna and Piploda block for their praising
cooperation during discussions and field visits. I am also thankful to extension-trainees,
para-jankaars, members of block technology team of Sailana sub-divison, Panchayat
Inspector of Bajna block, Panch and Gram sachiv of different villages for providing useful
documents and information about ATMA.
Finally I would like to thank all those who provided information about guidelines and
functioning of ATMA.
Abstract-
In this paper we are describing impact assessment study of ATMA project in three
block of Ratlam district (Madhya Pradesh) –Sailana, Baajna and Piploda. Extension
Reforms (ATMA) Programme introduced during 2005-06 by the Ministry of
Agriculture, and Government of India was a major intervention in addressing the
constraints as observed in T &V and post T & V system by making the extension
system farmer driven and farmer accountable through process and institutional
reforms mechanism. So the prime aim of the study is to observe the topics of training
and their adoption by the farmer. The study involved visits of farm field school, field
observations, interaction with farmers and analysis of results of focused group
discussion. During the study though the Rabi season yield results are still awaited
but farmers have reason to smile due to good crop despite of low rainfall.
Farmers of many villages come for training in FFS conducted at different location but
the real success can be assess by the change in attitude and reaction of farmer
towards topics discussed in different levels of training. This change will be reflected
in their field practices which can be observed by observer. Sometime such changes
can lead to change of cropping pattern in that region.
Title:
Study the immediate impact of different types of trainings conducted under ATMA program in 3
block of namely Sailana , Bajana and Piploda Blocks of Ratlam district in M.P.
Introduction:
The main activities taken under ATMA program are given below:
Objective:
Assess the level of awareness of the farmers post training;
Understand and assess the adaptation behaviors of farmers for new agriculture
technologies;
Draw a comparison between farmers attended trainings and non participating
farmers.
Assess the farmers’ perception about the training pedagogy, issues, timeliness and
effectiveness of the trainers;
Methodology:
Sample size: 30 farmers participated more than once in the trainings organized under ATMA
program by GVT – NLRI and 30 non participating farmers of six villages of Sailava, Bajana and
Piploda Blocks of Ratlam. Each block would be represented by 2 sample village;
Tool to be used:
Individual interview.
Visits to farmer’s field in each selected sample village;
Focused group discussion – in 6 villages of three Blocks.
Research methodology:
The present study will be conducted with the help of the individual farmer’s discussion (survey),
issue focus group discussion.
Individual Interview:
The individual farmer’s interview will be conducted in the 6 selected villages. In each village 5
trained & 5 untrained farmers will be interviewed. A checklist and or sample schedule will be
developed to capture the farmer’s perception using different parameters. The information to be
covered in the survey could be for example - farmer name, area under cultivation, yield of the
crops before training, and after the attending different training, topic of the training, frequency of
the training imparted, content and methodology of the training.
Field Visit: Minimum two farm visits at the farmers’ field (participating and non participating
farmers).
Focused Group Discussion- In this exercise the farmers will be asked about the number of
training, topic of training, quality of training and frequency of training. The FGD will be
separately conducted with the trained and un trained group of farmers from the study area i.e.
three block namely Sailana, Bajana and Piploda Block of the Ratlam district.
Meeting with the concern official: during the field study the student will meet to the concerned
block officer to see the impact of the program its effectiveness.
Analysis of study: The analysis will be done using suitable statistical tools.
Expected output:
Work plan:
Total District Area :-4861 Sq.Km. Population as per 1991 census 9,71,888
The total cultivated area of the region is rainfed to dryland. Some area is receiving
irrigation water from Dhaulawar dam or Malini and Mahi river after rainy season but other
regions are depended upon ground water totally. Land of these areas is shallow, undulated
and full of gravels. Whole area is denuded by people for firewood and fodder.
IMPORTANT CROPS :-
Block- Sailana
Geographical area-536 sq km
Forest land-9100ha
Total farmer-18000(approx)
Block-Baajna
Geographical area-682 sq km
Average rainfall-1017 mm
Total village-221
Bajna block is one of the poorest regions of Ratlam district. Use of natural resources in
unlimitted scale can cause how much harm to a fragile ecological region, this block is the best
National Institute of Rural Development | PGDRDM
Feb 23 , 2010 Report on Action Research
example. Continuous deforestation of forest for needs and careless attitude about its
conservation has brought the Baajna block at the verge of desertification. Ratlam has played a
great role for unsaturated demand of fire-wood and timber. Unaware of the harms of
deforestation, poor villagers sold their precious resource for fulfilling the demand of irrational
users. Today scarcity of resources like drinking and irrigation water, fertile top soil, water
bodies etc can be attributed to this evil.
Except the months of summer when most of the population of region moves for livelihood to
nearby cities and states, cultivation of cereal and food grains is done at extensive scale.
Requirement of irrigation is fulfilled by ponds, kuchha canals, wells and tube-wells. Due to
shallow soil water not penetrates to deeper layers and either evaporates or run away to rivers.
Transportation facilities have improved under PMGSY scheme but failure of NREGS raises a lot
of question. Malpractices are rampant at Panchayati Raj Institutes which has weakened the
possibilities of reduction in migration. The availability of electricity is restricted to 6-7 hrs a day
which is affecting any scope of further improvement of condition of villages.
Block- Piploda
Piploda is also an underdeveloped block of Ratlam district. Piploda is a historical place also
where Jat and Dodiya king ruled for many years. Piploda block is developed as compare to both
Sailana and Baajna block.
Area of block-604sq km
Population of village-98114
Total town population -6258
In recent years farmers had not suffered so much loss from any particular disease or insect but
they are aware of decreasing productivity of land. According their view the cost of cultivation is
going high due to-
Costly agro-chemicals
Cost of irrigation through tube wells and far places through pipes
Core study
Villages chosen
List of farmers
2 Village Herthal Mahendra ji, Kalu ji, Karu Dula, Ram Chandra Babar, Lal
Kaalu Mangla, Geeta Chandra
ji, Pesudi Bai
*In block Baajna ATMA was running in kharif 2009. Presently only Waadi project is running here.
List of farmers
1 Village – Choga Lal Patidar, Bhanvar lal Onkar Lal Ji, Prakash Lal, Prem
Adwania Patidar, Samrath Patidar,Mangi Shankar, Chunni Lal, Bala Ram
Lal Patidar, Mukesh , Luxman ,
Kishor
2 Village- Mukesh Patidar, Moti Lal, Shyam Bhanvar Lal ji, Nand Lal ,Nand
Karia Das, Bairagi ji, Sukhi Lal , Anokhe Lal Dhandad, Dashrath ji, Gopal
Lal, Vishnu ji Gunwara, Gopal choudhary,
Prem Chand Kasaut ,Amba Ram
Block Piploda-
List of farmers
1 Village- Hatnara Bhuwan Lal Dhakad, Iswar Lal ji, Rakesh Nagar, Rameshwar
Bakat Lal Dhakad, Nagar, kalu lal Ninaam, Khemraj Patidar
Madan Lal,
Bhageerath Ji, Radhe
Shyam, Kailash ji
2 Village- Mangi Lal, Ratan Lal Ratan Das, Nar Singh Choudhary, Nagu
Aakhatwasa Malawi, Deepak , Choudhary, Goverdhan Das, Rajesh Da
Prakash Joshi, Karu
Lal
Kharif Rabi
Baajna 2 0
Piploda 1 2
Sailana 1 2
Levels of training-
Field level training- Scientist regularly visits the farmer’s field at intervals during
different growth stages. For better observations demonstration are laid on an
achiever farmers field (first line demonstration) and later some selected farmers
are provided with improved seeds for wider demonstration.
Block level training- At block level trainings were conducted where selected
farmers from different villages invited. Farmers trained here act as resource
person at village level.
Farmers also take participation in District level training and State level training at
regular intervals. At this level only those farmers are chosen who show regular
presence in training session and have better adoption rate for new technology.
These training mostly focused on popularization of farm mechanization and
vegetable production.
IN due course of study only those villages were selected where trainings under
ATMA were conducted earlier. Besides them due to little bit similarity of Organic-
Waadi project to ATMA its impact study was also taken up. Farmers were selected
randomly while transect walk through village and sometime intentionally from
farmers meetings at different places.
In all these blocks the population of tribal people is very high. The main source of
livelihood is agriculture and allied activities only. Due to lack of education they are
unable to get Govt job. Many people of these blocks also migrate to Rajasthan
and Gujrat in summer season for work.
In case of large farmers like Patidar community of Sailana and Piploda block
migration is also a good option but the case is different totally from tribals. They
have leased in hectares of land for cultivation from the farmers where they are
migrating. Many farmers have already commercialized their farm but still most of
the farmers need institutional help to stabilize their farm income.
Topics of training -
Improved methods of sowing- it is observed that farmers are making
regular losses due to faulty practice of broadcasting. FFS popularized line
sowing among farmers through demonstration.
Benefits of training -
Knowledge level-
Under ATMA farmers got opportunity of better interaction with scientists. If
this opportunity of interaction is utilized properly it will strengthen farmer’s
faith in recent development of agricultural science and technology.
Interaction with the farmers in training sessions had shown that they learnt
efficient and cost-effective methods of input management. These methods
are used by farmers in achieving maximum productivity potential of land
and plant.
Economic benefits-
Inefficient use of inputs unnecessarily increases the cost of cultivation. The
knowledge of critical growth stages of crops for fertilizer application and
irrigation can save its wastage. Farmers shared their experiences of
increasing awareness about these issues. By proper application of this
learning they are getting higher production from the same resources.
Communication –
Para- extension workers/jankars, Kisan-Mitra/contact farmer have been
recruited to strengthen the flow of information in both sides. But their
approachability and experience is still an area to improve. Their
approachability can firm the faith in extension process.
verities and have shown interest in replacing old verities with improved ones. But
the question is why only few farmers regularly get attention of facilitators?
Women participation –
One of the biggest challenge before the ATMA is to assure women participation in
any activity. ATMA has partial success in this front. Jankaar have contacts with
women SHG’s to ensure their presence in meetings. But if we compare the spare
time of women to men then it is really a hard task for them to join meeting
regularly. Still we can say that ATMA has addressed complaints of women about
training at distant places. ATMA is strengthening poor families it is proved by
example of Suppli Bai and Jeevani Devi in Adhapath village which are now going
to start a small industry of cloth printing in Baajna block.
Chagan Lal Patidar of Advania village has motivated many farmers to adopt
line sowing and onion cultivation in grapevine orchard for initial years of
production.
Enthusiastic group of youths in Karia village is working to involve more
progressive farmers in seed production societies.
Components of ATMA
Farmers organization-
Contact farmers
1 Selection Progressive farmer of groups which plays active role in every activity
Attitude – New approach has passed a good message among farmers that
Government approach is to take whole community together. It shows shift in
approach of extension department from client farmer to group focused
approach.
Reaction –With the government support beneficiaries are ready to keep aside
short term goals for safeguarding their long term interest. The popularization
of sustainable cultivation techniques is one of the major achievements of
ATMA programme in these blocks.
Technological advancement
Lacuna
2 Demonstration plot was not Small and marginal farmers Such farmers need
taken care of by some prone to negligence due to more support
farmers shortage of inputs
New initiatives
Farmers seed
grower’s societies
Approach
To produce foundation seed of soyabean, the farmers need to form a group (not
less than 13 persons) which will be registered for certification under scientist.
Scientist will provide them breeder seed and necessary training for maintaining
genetic-physical purity. After harvest of crop it will be available for selling in
market as foundation seed. For encouragement Government will provide better
price and bonus in farmer’s bank account.
Achievements -
Till now within one month farmers of Adwania and Karia have formed one society
each. Aakhtwasa farmers are also working to form many groups in the hope of
expected benefits.
With the support of NABARD MP govt is introducing a plan with the help of GVT to
make organic cultivation popular among farmers of selected blocks.
Aim
Approach
Selected farmers of a village are helped who have sufficient land and assured
source of irrigation for better management of available resources. A contract is
signed between GVT and farmers that upto7 year they will follow all practices
according to the necessary guidelines. For convenience to local people it has
made some innovative adaptation also e.g. porous pitcher use instead of drips for
controlling release of water.
Main components
Under organic- waadi people are encouraged to grow short duration vegetable
crops between rows of trees. Even border of plot is used to grow medium height
crops as hedge.
Horticulture crops- Mango, Guava, Orange, Papaya, Jackfruit
One acre =42 tree when (Mango + guava) are cultivted
Vegetables-Tomato, Brinjal, Gilki, Onion, coriander, garlic
National Institute of Rural Development | PGDRDM
Feb 23 , 2010 Report on Action Research
Recommendations
Increase in the duration of activity in village once selected for at least two
years to assess real adoption behavior
Experts also need to realize that it is not every time that farmers are at
receiver’s end but sometimes they also need to learn from innovative
farmers
Way forward
In my view every ecological zone should come up with its own plan to cope with
local constraints to achieve highest production. The decentralization of extension
process done under ATMA will reach its summit when each geographical and
climatic unit of cultivable area has its own action plan to optimize production in
local condition.
This study has provided me an insight about the problems of farmers and
extension workers to develop agriculture as a lucrative livelihood option. My key
learning from the research is as follows-
Producer Market
use of best inputs processing
credit benefits packaging
marketing support pricing
technological help promotion
Government
and credit
institution
Research
selection of improved variety Consumer
knowledge support to producer purchasing
market orientation satisfaction
environment protection demand
Annexure
Farmers of villages selected under study were asked how much they were benefited from
attending FFS. The farmers response are shown in the table given below-
Chart Title
Extremely satisfieded Satisfied Neutral Not satisfied
5%
17%
56%
22%
Information/Technique disseminated
Fields visited
Fields visited
Not adopted
Not adopted
Not adopted
Technique
Technique
Technique
adopted
adopted
adopted
12 9 3 9 6 3 10 9 1
1 Wheat 2 2.6
3 Onion 45 50
5. Nutrient management 15 – 20
6. Inter cultural operations (weed control in Kharif) 5-10
i. Migration Pattern: The Ratlam District consists of six blocks out of which
Bajna and Sailana are blocks heavily migration affected. The intensity of
migration on an average is 65% where as it reaches to 70% in summer
season particularly in June. Reason behind the migration is highly
undulating terrain with degraded land and high runoff of monsoon
water. The area is rainfed and only Kharif crop is manageable to grow in
these blocks. Small land holding and low productivity of crops does not
satisfy the needs of the families which in turn promotes the migration.
The migration in other block is very little and entirely different in nature
in comparison to those Sailana and Bajna Block.
ii. Seasons of Migration: It has been observed that the migration started
with the crop harvesting season which starts from September – October
month for Kharif crop and March- April month for Rabi crop. After the
agricultural work these people stay in towns for construction activity and
other works. The migration intensified after April in want of job for
earning. They also moved to other places with their cattle for grass and
fodder. These people generally do not come back to their home till
month of June. They generally come back before the monsoon for
preparation of their agriculture land.
iii. Rural to Urban Migration: The general trend of migration here is from
rural areas to urban areas though it starts from nearby rural areas to big city.
These labour moves from their area to Ratlam, Ujjain and Indore in Madhya
Pradesh. They also move to Banswara, Chitorgarh, Kota in Rajasthan and Baroda,
Dahod in Gujrat.
iv. Migration within district: Migration within the district by the village
people is normal practice but it is found to be comparatively lesser than the
migration outside the district.
Limitation of study-
ATMA is a very ambitious project of government which involves a number of
stakeholders from farmers to project implementation agency. To cover all aspects
of the research, challenges found to be visible are as follows-
Group dynamics-
Under this project two types of groups were contacted-farmers
organization and self help group. The farmers group consists of people from
the village who are part of ATMA programme. Once these groups are
registered with the agency they provide facilities to group in terms of
inputs and training. But it has come into knowledge that all group members
not attend meetings properly and their main intention is to know about
agency before active participation. The agency also has some limitations
about the no of beneficiary it can select for one season, so it selects usually
those farmers as beneficiary who are regular during meetings.
Though in all farm activities participation of women is equal but these groups
have no arrangement to ensure women participation.
Farmers of these villages are also organized as SHG for promoting savings
among them. Women self help groups prepares MDM scheme food in school,
either preparing in school premises or bringing prepared food from their
homes. But in many cases villagers complained about the quality of food
prepared by these groups. That is reason in some villages children are not
taking food in school. Even due to caste issue Patidar community not allow
their children to take food in school.
farmers to other places for four months. In NREGS work in their village
people got less than Rs.50 due to malpractices and poor quality of work.
Literature reviewed-
Recommendation of working group on Agriculture extension for formulation of Eleven five year plan