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ATMA meeting not held in 18 months

KORAPUT: The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) has lost its momentum in Koraput district from the day it was changed from its earlier format.

The agency which was formed to facilitate transfer of new technology from laboratories to the farms had brought about a revolution by supporting 1500 Gramya Krushak Manch in the district for many years with the presence of a full-fledged project director heading the institution. But from 2005, ever since its functioning was handed over to the office of the Deputy Director, Agriculture, in addition to its own work, the mission had lost its momentum and importance, sources said.

While there was a need to call for a meeting of the governing body once in every three months, there was not a single meeting of the board held in the last 18 months. This had led to non-utilisation of about Rs70 lakhs by the agency, sources added.

However the agency which had brought laurels in the past for the district with its innovation like publishing the first agricultural monthly magazine in a tribal language from the district and providing forums for tribal farmers to express their findings and experiences, could bring back the benefits to farmers with the posting of a full-fledged project director for the agency , Satyanarayan Choudhury, a governing body member of ATMA said.

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