Sri Prashant Kumar
DC-cum-Chairman
ATMA. Dumka

The purpose of National Agriculture Technology Project's (NATP) Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD) Component is to pilot test new organisation arrangements and operational procedures - not merely stregthen the existing extension system. The following are the key concept of goal of the ITD component of NATP.

• Decentralise decision making to the district level through the creation of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA).

• To increase farmer input into programme planning and resource allocation, especially at the block level, and to increase accountability to stack holders.

• To increase programme coordination and integration, so that the programme coordination and integration, so that the programme thrusts such as Farming System Innovations, Farmers Organisations, Technology gaps and Natural Resource Management can be more effectively and efficiently implemented.

Sri G. Hansda
Project Director
ATMA, Dumka

For Operationalisation of ITD component of National Agriculture Technology Project in the country seven states i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa were selected according to agro-climatic zones. As a pilot testing one district of each states were selected by ICAR and GoI for implementation of the programme.

Dumka district was selected as pilot district which falls under the sub-zone number IV i.e. Central and North-eastern plateau zone of Bihar. In the year 1998 a regristered organisation called Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) has been established in Dumka district for implementation of the ITD component of NATP.

From the year 1998 ATMA working in the Dumka district. In the year 2000  separate office has been established at Kisan Vidyapith Campus.