A Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms” (ATMA) is being implemented in 734 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs for promoting decentralized and farmer-friendly extension system in the country since 2005-06.The objective of the Scheme is to support State Government’s efforts and to make available latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areasto farmers to modernize agriculture through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Skill Training of Rural Youth, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

            In order to improve skills of Rural Youth in different thematic areas of Agriculture a skill development program namely Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) is under implementation since 2015-16. STRY is implemented by National Institute of Extension Management (MANAGE) with the support of State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs) and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) aims at providing short duration skill-based training programs to rural youth including farmers on agri-based vocational areas. More than 86,000 rural youth including farmers have been trained so far under the scheme since 2015-16.

Under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), in order to make farm machinery more accessible and affordable to farmers, financial assistance @ 40-50% of the cost of machinery depending on the category of farmers is provided for purchase of agricultural machines.

            DeendayalAntyodayaYojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has been strengthening non-farm specific livelihoods by empowering the women and their family members to promote/strengthen their units under different sub-components of Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) umbrella.SVEP creates an enabling rural business development ecosystem which supports the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their family members to set-up small enterprises in the non-farm livelihoods sector. It is implemented in 31 States and Union Territories.

DAY-NRLM also focuses on strengthening market access, brand visibility, and income generation opportunities for SHG women. The efforts were directed towards developing a structured and sustainable marketing ecosystem encompassing institutional strengthening, brand development, digital enablement, and market convergence. The overarching objective was to empower SHG entrepreneurs by integrating them into mainstream markets through physical and digital platforms. Special Trademarks as brands registered by the Ministry of Rural Development at National Level such as “Saras”, “SarasAajeevika” and “Aajeevika” for promotion of SHG products at National, Regional, State and District are expanded.

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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RC/AR/DK

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