The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ATMA sanctioned for four districts in third phase

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Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

ATMA sanctioned for four districts in third phase

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: The Centre has sanctioned Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) for Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts in the third phase. The agency will function as per directive and needs of farmers, according to A. Krupadanam, Joint Director (Agriculture) and Project Director of ATMA.

Talking to The Hindu on Tuesday, Mr. Krupadanam has said that the Agency will have a governing body with Collector as Chairman, and heads of other allied departments, Lead Bank Manager, farm scientists and nine progressive farmers as members.

In the other wings of ATMA -- Management Committee, Block Technology Team and Farmers Advisory Committee – the role of farmers is crucial. The resolutions passed regarding any other farm activity at the Farmers’ Advisory Committee must have to be implemented by the governing body, he said. The aim of ATMA was to give utmost importance to farmers’ suggestions and their implementation in the field level. The Centre would release grants for meeting their demands, he said and added that the term of the Agency was five years.

Food mission

Another Central programme namely National Food Security Mission was also sanctioned for the district and released Rs. 8.62 lakhs for the Rabi season, Mr. Krupadanam said.

This was sanctioned keeping in view the low paddy yield per acre.

The aim was to increase the extent of paddy cultivation and also the yield potential by adopting modern farm management techniques.

Adilabad, Guntur, Khammam, Krishna, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nellore, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam are the other paddy cultivation districts included in the mission, he added.

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