Guideline for Extension Reforms in India and AEFC 130710
1. Guideline for
Modified ‘Support to State Extension Programmes
for Extension Reforms’ Scheme 2010 and
Promoting Agriculture Enterprise Facilitation
Centres (AEFCs) in India
Jitesh Panda
Vrutti Livelihoods Resource Centre
13th July 2010
2. In Black:
Relates to Guideline for Modified ‘Support to State Extension
Programmes for Extension Reforms’ Scheme 2010
In Blue:
Relates to Agriculture Enterprise Facilitation Centre (AEFC)
promoted by Vrutti – Related suggestions/feedback
3. AEFCs….
An Institutional mechanism for
Agriculture Extension Services - Promoted by Vrutti
Purpose – Contribute to Agriculture Extension
Reforms in India
Focus
Profitability besides Productivity
Farmer as Entrepreneur
Farm as Enterprise
4. Background….
1998- 2005: Extension reforms in India was pilot tested under
World Bank led National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP)
–Related to Technology; But current/future need relates to
considering Agriculture as Enterprise
2005: Scheme for ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for
Extension Reforms’ launched
2007: National Development Council (NDC) highlighted need for
Extension Reform, including use of ICT – Rationale for
promoting AEFC type Institution
2007: National Policy for Farmers (NPF) farmer-to-farmer
learning by setting-up Farm Schools in the fields of selected
farmers – Relates to involvement of Progressive Farmers as
envisaged in AEFC
5. Broad Features….
Dedicated specialist and functionary support
to take up training and extension initiatives at
different levels – Relates to Multi Disciplinary
Team at AEFC level
Improvement in extension outreach right
down to the village level is expected to be
achieved through Farmer Friend – Relates to
involvement of Progressive Farmers in AEFC
6. Objectives…
Providing innovative, restructured and autonomous institutions
at the state/district/ block level – AEFC viewed as Block level
Autonomous Institution for delivery of Agriculture Extension
services
Encouraging multi-agency extension strategies involving Public/
Private Extension Service Providers – AEFC expected to serve
as institutional mechanism for interface of different agencies
associated with extension
Ensuring an integrated, broad-based extension delivery
mechanism consistent with farming system approach – “Broad
based” may refer to extension services being “enterprise” driven
than being “technology” driven;
“Farming System” approach, “although desirable’ may not be
relevant in current/future scenario
7. Objectives…
Adopting group approach to extension in line with the identified
needs and requirements of the farmers in the form of CIGs &
FIGs
Past efforts relating to CIGs and FIGs has yielded limited result;
Important to work with Farmer than promoting groups;
Interest Group may be promoted based on needs identified
through detail value chain analysis
Facilitating convergence of programmes in planning, execution
and implementation
Relates to need for convergence of agriculture, food processing
and rural development related interventions
8. Objectives…
Addressing gender concerns by mobilizing farm women into
groups and providing training to them
Would be good to work with existing SHGs than promoting new
groups;
Efforts related to “gender mainstreaming” may involve working
with the household than mobilizing farm women in groups
Moving towards sustainability of extension services through
beneficiary contribution
May be possible only to very limited extent
May be possible by involving Value Chain Players
Government need to financially support Agriculture Extension
Services
9. Limited focus of Objectives on…
Agriculture as Enterprise
Working along the Value Chain
Promoting Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)
Preparing farmers to participate in Global Trade
Systems
Promoting Innovations in Agriculture Extension
10. Strategy at State level….
State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) under
RKVY as Apex Body
State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) as part of State
Agriculture Plan (SAP) under RKVY
Inter Departmental Working Group (IDWG) – for day to
day management of scheme
Feedback from State Farmer Advisory Commitee
State Nodal Cell with State Nodal Officer & State
Coordinator
11. Strategy at District Level…
ATMA as an autonomous institution set up at district
level to ensure delivery of extension services to
farmers
ATMA to prepare Strategic Research and Extension
Plan (SREP)
ATMA to be guided by District Farmers Advisory
Committee
Dedicated Staff at ATMA
12. Strategy at Block Level…
Block Technology Team (BTT) – A team comprising officers of
agriculture and all line departments within the block
Block Farmers Advisory Committee (BFAC) consisting of
farmers of the block to provide feedback
BFAC to be constituted from FIGs/Farmer Organizations on
rotation basis
BFAC and BTT to work jointly
Block Technology Manager to work according to Block Action
Plan (BAP)
Focus on Technology not Enterprise
Limited independence & autonomy at block level
13. Strategy at Village Level…
The Farmer Friend (FF) to serve as a vital link between extension
system and farmers at village level (one for every two villages) –
Need for Farmer Friend in every village
Need for two farmer friends in each village to reach out to farmers and
farm women
Agri- entrepreneurs to supplement the efforts of extension functionaries
Village level Agri enterpreneurs could be Farmer Friend;
Value Chain Players could be integral part of ATMA Cell at block level
Farm Schools - to serve as a mechanism for farmer-farmer extension at
3 to 5 focal points in every Block
Need for more number of Farm Schools
Farm Schools could be technology and also profitability focused
15. Suggestions…
Value Chain Agri Enterpreneurs need to be involved
in management at Block ATMA Cell
Agri Enterpreneurs at Village level may be involved
as Farmers Freind
Need for focus on Value Chain
Block level institution need to be autonomous
Farmer Interest Group (FIG) and Farmer
Organization may be promoted linked to
gaps/opportunities in the Value Chain
Block level ATMA Cell can function as AEFC
16. Involvement of Specialists…
Block Technology Manager and two Subject Matter
Specialists (SMS) per Block
Can be recruited on deputation, from private market,
on contractual basis
Two Subject Matter Specialists
Agriculture
Agriculture Allied
Need for additional SMS from Management
background
Successful Enterpreneurs may be involved as SMS
17. Farmer Friend…
Identify and groom Progressive Farmers to act as focal points at
village level
Village based Agriculture Entrepreneur may be involved
Need for Value Chain focused Farmer Friend
Besides generic agriculture extension focused Farmer Friends
One FF per two census inhabited villages;
Preference for Farm Women as FF
Need for exclusive FF for Farm Women
Need for two FF in a village
Farmer Friend to be engaged by BTM on a resolution of Gram
Panchayat (GP), which will, in turn, consult FIGs working in the
Panchayat area
GP may appoint FF on resolution of Palli Sabha
18. Role of Farmer Friends…
To activate Village-based, bottom-up planning process
Serve as vital link, between extension system and farmers at
village level
Can facilitate strengthening of Value Chain
To lead by example
Expected to have up-graded skills
To be available in the village to advise on agriculture and allied
activities
19. Farmer Friends…
Not to be paid any cash-compensation
Proposed to provide them with a special opportunity for
up-gradation of skills through trainings, study tours and
visits to SAUs / other institutes
Rs. 4,000 per Farmer Friend per year will be used to
meet contingency expenditure – equally shared by
Central and State Government
FF may be provided cash incentives and/or
honorarium
20. Activities…
Farmer Oriented Activities
Development of SREP
Mobilization of farmer groups
Training/ exposure visit of farmers
Arranging demonstrations
Focus of Farmer Oriented Activities:
Empowering Farmers
Improving Farmer’s participation in technology
dissemination process
Need focus on Enterprise besides Technology
21. Activities…
Farm Information Dissemination
Local level agricultural exhibitions
Information dissemination through
Printed materials and
Development of technology packages in
electronic form
Could be Demand led and/or market led
22. Activities…
Research-Extension-Farmer (R-E-F) linkages
Organization of Farmer-Scientist Interaction at local level
Organization of Field-days
Organization of Kisan Goshties
Support for local level researchable issues which emanate
from SREP.
Could be Enterprise Focused
23. Other Activities…
Promoting Farm School as vital link between the progressive
/achiever farmers and others in a village
Formation of Commodity Interest Groups and their federation
at Block and district level
May be affect and/or get influenced by the value chain/market;
May not be successful in all value chains
Involvement of Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres as
Volunteer Specialists
May be involved as integral part of the institutional mechanism
Support setting up of Community Radio Stations (CRSs)
In due course AEFCs may promote CRS
24. Convergence…
Convergence of Manpower
Extension related workers & consultants under other
schemes/programmes to serve as multifunctional extension
workers as assigned to them by the BTT/ATMA.
Budget for extension related components in different
schemes and programmes to be dovetailed at district level
through ATMA
Would facilitate functioning of AEFC
Convergence with Research System
State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) and Krishi Vigyan
Kendra (KVKs) to be involved
SERP, Extension Work Plans and Block Action Plan
Provide technical advise to BTT
Would facilitate functioning of AEFC
25. Convergence…
Convergence with Development Departments
Thrust on RKVY
Need for convergence with Rural Development Schemes
Need for more involvement of PRIs
Convergence with & Involvement of Non-Governmental Sector
Encouraging Public Private partnership (PPP) – Would facilitate
formation of AEFCs
NGOs eligible collect service charge from farmers – Would contribute
to financial sustainability of AEFC
Extension Work Plan involving Non Governmental Organizations may
be prepared at the State level and approved by SLSC/ IDWG, without
having to obtain recommendation of the BTT/ FAC and approval of
ATMA, GB concerned; Funds to be released at State level
Would strongly facilitate promotion of AEFCs
26. Monitoring & Evaluation…
National Level - By Monitoring Committee & Policy
Committee
State level - By IDWG
District Monthly & Quarterly Report – Through Web
based Interface
Third party monitoring of the Scheme has to be got
done annually
Concurrent Monitoring by Central Institutes
Impact Assessment by Expert Agencies
Impact Assessment & Third Party Monitoring by
External Agencies may be done at District/Block level
27. Overall Suggestions…
Extension Reform activities may overall focus on “Enterprise” THAN
JUST ON “Technology”
Potential to promote AEFCs under Extension Work Plan Support
to NGOs at State Level
Block ATMA Cell could function/evolve as autonomous AEFC by
Involving Value Chain Players – Successful Agriculture Entrepreneurs
in management of Block ATMA Cell
Registering as a Not for Profit Entity
Being anchored by a NGO with experience in agriculture extension
Have Farmer Friends (Both Male & Female) linked to each village
and/or Value Chains
Could be incentivized and provided with honorarium
Involve Progressive Farmers and Entrepreneurs as Farmer’s Friends
