National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)

The rate of productivity in the agricultural sector significantly benefits from advanced farm mechanisation. To accelerate agricultural productivity and enhance farm mechanisation, it is crucial to include small and marginal farmers in this process. This inclusivity sustains agricultural progress and boosts productivity. To achieve this, it is imperative to extend farming services and mechanisation. This objective led to the approval of the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. This article provides an understanding of NMAET and its essential components.

Aim of NMAET

The objective of the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) is to restructure and strengthen agricultural extension. This enables the delivery of appropriate technology and improves agronomic practices to benefit farmers. The Mission integrates various elements to form Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs) through:

Extensive physical outreach
Interactive information dissemination methods
Utilization of Information and Communication Technology
Promotion of modern and appropriate technologies
Capacity building and institution strengthening for mechanisation
Ensuring availability of quality seeds
Plant protection initiatives

Overview of NMAET

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) during the 12th Plan Period. Previously, agricultural technology and practices were dispersed across multiple schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. In 2010, the Modified Extension Reforms Scheme was established to bolster agricultural machinery, leveraging synergistic interventions under the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA). NMAET represents a strategic move towards this goal by amalgamating the following schemes:

SMAE: Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension
SMSP: Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material
SMAM: Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization
SMPP: Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine

Despite comprising four distinct sub-missions for administrative ease, these components are interconnected, with extension and technology being the common theme throughout. Crucial agricultural inputs such as seeds, pesticides, and machinery must be made accessible to farmers through efficient extension mechanisms. Beyond ensuring these inputs are available at affordable prices, the capacity-building elements in each sub-mission ensure that agricultural extension and technology move in tandem, forming the foundation of NMAET.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE)

SMAE aims to enhance awareness and the use of suitable technologies in the agriculture sector and related industries. The existing successes will be consolidated and strengthened by increasing the reach of extension functionaries. Through the Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres Scheme (ACABC) and the Diploma in Agriculture Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI), trained professionals will extend services to farmers. Innovative processes, such as pico projectors, low-cost films, and Kisan Call Centres, will be adopted at the village level. Enhancing the capacity of local farmers is also aligned with broader strategies, such as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana.

Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)

Adopting quality seeds is the most cost-effective strategy to boost agricultural production and productivity. The SMSP intervention covers the entire seed chain, from nucleus seed supply to farmers for sowing, to providing infrastructure support that enables agricultural sector growth. Additionally, SMSP strives to reinforce the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, establishing a robust system to safeguard multiple plant varieties and motivate plant breeders' development of new variations. This initiative complements efforts in industries where Apparel Park Scheme is implemented to boost productivity.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM)

There is a profound link between farm power availability and agricultural productivity. Hence, the SMAM focuses on farm mechanisation. This mission addresses the requirements of small and marginal farmers through mechanisms like custom hiring, mechanisation of selected villages, subsidies for machine procurement, and more. These steps align with strategies like Business Continuity Plans that ensure smooth operations.

Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP)

The SMPP, part of the NMAET, aims to increase agricultural production by using scientific, environmentally friendly techniques to keep crops disease-free through Integrated Pest Management. By enhancing the Pest Management Approach, regulatory requirements for pesticides are also addressed. This component regulates or restricts the import of plants to prevent exotic pest invasions, ensuring that pesticide residues in food and environmental samples are monitored. The National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) encourages sustainable plant health management methods, accommodating diverse agro-climatic conditions and enhancing biosecurity. Furthermore, the import-export protocols are crucial for maintaining the balance in pest management.

Linkages between Sub-Missions

The sub-missions under the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) share several interconnections:

Each sub-mission’s farmer-centric training and field extension gaps are included in the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), documented with input from line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Panchayati Raj Institutions, the private sector, farmers, and other stakeholders at the district level.
Funds earmarked for these activities are utilized through the Agricultural Technology Management Agency, aligning with various missions, schemes, and programmes under the NMAET.
The agency’s workforce supports extension activities across multiple sub-missions, ensuring seamless integration and implementation.
Components like technical, legal, administrative, and regulatory functions, unrelated to farmer-centric extensions, continue their independent operations under respective sub-missions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about NMAET.

The National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) is an initiative approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to restructure and strengthen agricultural extension services, enabling the delivery of appropriate technology and improved agronomic practices to farmers. The mission aims to form Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs) through various elements like physical outreach, interactive information dissemination, use of ICT, and capacity building.

NMAET comprises four sub-missions: Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE), Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP), Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), and Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP). Although they are separate for administrative convenience, they are interlinked, with extension and technology being the common thread.

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) focuses on creating awareness and enhancing the use of appropriate technologies in the agricultural sector and allied industries. It aims to consolidate and strengthen past gains through increased penetration of extension functionaries, using interactive and innovative processes and methods of conveying information to farmers at the village level.

The Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) covers the entire seed chain, from nucleus seed to supply to farmers for sowing, and providing infrastructure support. It also aims to strengthen the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority to protect plant varieties, farmers' rights, and encourage the development of new plant variations.

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) focuses on farm mechanisation, catering to the requirements of small and marginal farmers through institutional arrangements like custom hiring, mechanisation of pre-selected villages, subsidies for procurement of machines and equipment, and more. It recognizes the strong relationship between farm power availability and agricultural productivity.

The Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP) aims to increase agricultural production by keeping crops disease-free through scientific and environment-friendly techniques, promoting Integrated Pest Management. It also covers regulatory requirements of pesticides, prevention of introduction and spread of exotic pests, and monitoring pesticide residues in food products and environmental samples.

The sub-missions under NMAET are linked through common factors, such as the gap in farmer-centric training and field extension being included in the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP). Funds earmarked for extension activities under various sub-missions will be utilized through the Agricultural Technology Management Agency, and its workforce will be utilized for extension-related activities across sub-missions.

The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) plays a crucial role in the NMAET. Funds earmarked for extension activities under various sub-missions will be utilized through ATMA, and its workforce will be utilized for extension-related activities across sub-missions. ATMA will coordinate with line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Panchayati Raj Institutions, private sector, farmers, and other stakeholders at the district level.

The NMAET aims to support small and marginal farmers through various institutional arrangements under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), such as custom hiring, mechanisation of pre-selected villages, and subsidies for procurement of machines and equipment. Additionally, the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs) is a key objective of the mission.

The National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) plays a role under the Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP) of the NMAET. It encourages environmentally sustainable plant health management methods in diverse agro-climatic conditions, pesticide management, and biosecurity through capacity-building programs.