Shillong, July 19: A two-day Induction and Orientation Programme for newly recruited Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Functionaries organised by the Department of Agriculture kickstarted on Thursday at IATC, Upper Shillong.
Governor of Meghalaya, Shri Ganga Prasad graced the inaugural programme as Chief Guest and Additional Chief Secretary & Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri K. N. Kumar as the Guest of Honour.
Governor of Meghalaya, Shri Ganga Prasad while congratulating the newly recruited ATMA functionaries who will be actively involved in bringing about a tremendous change on the life of the farmers, said that their main priority and focus should be to reach to 80% small farmers of the State. The Governor said that the new inductees should use the knowledge they have acquired and impart new technologies to the farmers so that they can utilize those technologies and profit from their produce and that the priority should not only be on doubling the farmers’ income but also on the ways and means on how to cut down the transportation costs. There should be competition amongst yourselves and your performance and your dedication towards your work will be assessed annually whereby the best performing ATMA functionary will be awarded, he said. You all have a long way to go and this is just a stepping stone in your career, work hard, do your duty diligently and bring a difference in the life of the farmers of the State, he added.
Additional Chief Secretary & Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri K. N. Kumar said that in order to translate the lab technologies for the farmers’ benefits, there is a need for massive extension of agricultural system. While informing that 80% of the farmers in the State are small farmers, Shri Kumar urged the ATMA functionaries to target those with small land holdings and to aggregate them by creating farmer based organization so that they will have a better opportunity in accessing the agricultural extension system.
Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture Department, Shri P. S. Kumar in his speech said that ATMA is aimed at introducing new and innovative technologies to the farmers which will be able to address critical gap and issues faced by them and also to bring awareness on the various available schemes.