A crucial meeting of the ATMA Government Body and District Food Security Mission Executive Committee was convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner and ATMA Chairman  Ananya Mittal at the Collectorate Auditorium today. The session aimed to outline the agricultural activities and extension programs for the financial year 2024-25, with a strong focus on improving farming practices and food security in the district.

During the meeting, the District Agriculture Officer and Project Director of ATMA,  Bibek Burua, presented the approved budget of ₹232.53 lakh for the District Extension Work Plan under the ATMA Agriculture Extension Scheme. The funding will support a variety of activities designed to bolster agricultural productivity and farmer education.

The action plan includes a comprehensive set of initiatives: Training Programs: One inter-state training session, one state-level training session, nine district-level training sessions for farmers, and 11 district-level tours for farmers. Tours and Demonstrations: One inter-state tour, two in-state tours, and 40 units of mushroom production training in the Rabi season. Farmer Schools and Capacity Building: Establishment of one farmer school in each block, capacity development programs for women groups, and 11 farmer seminars. Agricultural Fair: One district-level agricultural fair to showcase advancements and innovations in farming.

Deputy Commissioner Mittal emphasized the need to promote the production of coarse grains through ATMA’s training and tour programs. He directed that farmers should be sent to institutions specializing in advanced water management techniques and pulse cultivation methods. The aim is to ensure that these subjects receive special attention in programs like Krishak Goshthi and Krishak Scientist Inter-Meetings.

 Mittal stressed that detailed program descriptions for all activities must be submitted through the Senior Officer and Project Director of ITDA for approval. This step is crucial to ensure the proper implementation and accountability of the planned activities.

In addition to the ATMA activities, the District Food Security Mission Executive Committee approved action plans under the Food and Nutrition Security Krishi Innovation Scheme. The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the importance of targeting support to genuinely needy farmers through various demonstration programs, including those for pulses, paddy, oilseeds, coarse grains, and nutri cereals.

The committee also discussed the distribution of agricultural machinery and inputs, ensuring that benefits are directed towards farmers who have not previously received assistance.

The meeting was attended by a range of key stakeholders, including Senior Officer and Project Director of ITDA,  Dipankar Chaudhary; District Land Conservation Officer; Lead District Manager; District Horticulture Officer; District Fisheries Officer; District Animal Husbandry cum District Dairy Development Officer; District Cooperative Officer; Deputy Project Director ATMA; Scientist of Regional Research Centre; District Council Member Parvati Munda; representatives from the Tagore Society; and farmer representatives.