News & Announcement

Joint Meeting of ATMA Bodies and DFAC Held to Strengthen Agricultural Extension Services

Date: 19-Apr-2025
Pakyong, April 19 (IPR):
A joint meeting of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Governing Body, Monitoring Committee, and District Farmers Advisory Committee (DFAC) was held today at the District Administrative Centre (DAC) in Pakyong.
The meeting was chaired by the District Collector of Pakyong, Mr Rohan Agawane, who also serves as the Chairman of the ATMA Governing Body in the presence of Additional Director cum Project Director ATMA, Mr Tshering Chopel Bhutia.
Key topics included reviewing the progress of agricultural programmes and promoting advanced farming methods under ATMA schemes.
Mr Agawane engaged in the discussions about the concept of Farmers Friend and Farm Schools being adopted at the block level. Furthermore, he gave his valuable inputs on challenges being faced by various stakeholders.
Similarly, the Additional Director cum Project Director ATMA, Mr Tshering Chophel Bhutia, provided a comprehensive overview of the structure and functions of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). In his address, he elaborated on the roles and responsibilities of the ATMA Governing Body, the Monitoring Committee, and the District Farmers Advisory Committee (DFAC), emphasising their significance in enhancing agricultural extension services and supporting the farming community.
Ms Rebecca Gurung, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department and Deputy Project Director of ATMA Pakyong, opened the session with a PowerPoint presentation of the 2024–2025 Annual Progress Report. She outlined fund utilisation and activities conducted under the ATMA initiative across all five blocks of Pakyong District. These included training sessions, awareness drives, demonstrations, farm schools, Kisan Ghosthis, and capacity-building programmes, all carried out in collaboration with various departments.
Ms Gurung also gave updates on the Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) programme, focusing on vocational skill development conducted in different blocks of the district.
After the presentation, an open discussion allowed committee members to offer feedback and suggestions for ongoing and upcoming initiatives.
Among the attendees were official from KVK East Sikkim; Deputy Director of AH&VS; Deputy Director of Horticulture Department; ADO; HDO; BO Fisheries Department; along with Block Technology Managers & Assistant Technology Managers.