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Centrally-sponsored scheme launched

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

A GUIDE TO FARMERS: Minister for Industries and Agriculture V. Vaithilingam with department officials at the launch of ATMA in Puducherry on Monday.

PUDUCHERRY: Minister for Industries and Agriculture V. Vaithilingam on Monday launched the Centrally-sponsored scheme, “Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms” in the Union Territory.

Mr Vaithilingam, who inaugurated the scheme, said that it would help farmhands to adopt a holistic approach in farming and pave way for decentralisation of decision-making with regard to farm activities.

Under the scheme, the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) had been formed with objectives such as disseminating technical information related to farm activities, he said.

According to him, under the scheme officials from departments of Agriculture, Fisheries, Diary, Animal Husbandry and Forests would work as a team to help farmers evolve location specific plans to improve their livelihood.

The new scheme would help farmers evolve plans which the government would be implementing, he added.

A brief note issued by the Agriculture department said the agency had been formed to identify location-specific needs of farmers, to prioritise sustainable agriculture development with a ‘Farming Systems Approach’, to draw plans for production-based system activities and to execute plans through allied departments, non-governmental organisations, farmers’ associations and other institutions.

It would also promote collaboration and coordination between various State-funded technical departments, it said. Among others who spoke at the inaugural function included Director of Agriculture Department R. Sathiyaseelan, Project Director of Agriculture Department T. Subbu Rathinam and G. Ravipragasam, Deputy Director, Farmers Training Centre Agriculture Department.

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