The major issues before Indian extension system are: how to improve the effectiveness of extension systems? How to serve the small land holders and marginal farmers in diversified farming systems? and proper allocation of fund, human resources and its management. The ATMA model has been...

This paper examined the Indian Agricultural Extension Systems and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Various lessons learnt over a period of time have also been documented. Hence, the paper recommends that the extension managers and policy makers should focus on the identified...

Presently, Indian agricultural extension has wide mandates and despite the pluralistic extension approaches, its coverage and use of services is limited; particularly in rain-fed regions that are represented by marginal and smallholder farmers’. Hence, there is need to develop “need-based”...

In India, the first SAU was established in 1960 at Pantnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The SAUs were given autonomous status and direct funding from the state governments. They were autonomous organizations with state-wide responsibility for agricultural research, education and training or extension...

Decentralizing a large, complex national extension system is not easy, but the Government of India appears to be moving toward this long-term goal. Although ATMA model has been successful in addressing many of the extension problems and has shown exceptional impacts during the NATP phase but it...

India's agricultural extension system is at a pivotal point in its development. During the past 50 years, the Indian extension system has evolved to reflect national priorities. At the outset, extension worked to bring about broad-based rural development. However, the food crises starting in the...

This case study explains the steps taken by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) in the Patna District of Bihar India to help very poor farmers link up with reliable markets to produce and market high-value medicinal and aromatic crops. The lead crop, which is the focus of this...

India has one of the largest livestock sectors in the world and the largest livestock population with 520.6 million head. Of the world’s livestock population, cattle contribute 12.7%, Buffalo 56.7%, goats, 14.5% and sheep 5.9 % (FAOSTAT, 2008). Livestock constitutes a natural asset for the...

The study evaluates the behaviour construct of self help group (SHG) members. Data were solicited from randomly selected 100 SHG members of Patna district, Bihar, India at two point of time (in before and after situation), i.e., during 2008 and 2013. The behaviour construct developed, consisted...

An evaluative study was undertaken for measuring the attitude of self help group (SHG) members. Data were solicited from randomly selected 100 SHG members of Patna district, Bihar at two points of time (before and after), i e during 2008 and 2013. The attitude construct was measured by using a...