Enabling Aquaculture Extension Strategy in Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), India

Author: Nisha Elizabeth Joshua and S.N. Ojha

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Abstract

The strengthening of aquaculture extension systems can accelerate the scope of targeted fish production in India. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is implemented as a bottom down approach in several states in India and is designed to integrate extension activities across all line departments. With the inception of the convergence strategy of ATMA, there is a need to develop an enabling aquaculture extension strategy, and statistical tools like Factor analysis and Ordinal regression model were used to develop the strategy. Thus, a study was conducted in five best performing ATMA districts in Kerala that is located along the southwest coast of India and a total of 225 fish farmers were selected for this study. Variables chosen for this research study concentrated around four factors namely Line Department Convergent Extension Approach, Marketing Extension Approach, Elementary Extension and Commodity Specific Approach that represented Aquaculture extension and Information Communication Technology (ICT) or Media Facilitated Approach. The proposed strategy addresses to initiate with factor three, that is, Elementary Extension and Commodity Specific Approach, that deals with fish farming variables and then to branch out to the other mentioned factors. In order to raise the income from fish culture, the expenditure needs to be elevated and the fish farmers require particular support for fisheries from the developmental departments and such a parallel support should predominantly be extended to the pond owners too. The main challenge lied with identifying the target group associated with this study and with the data collection procedure with the subjects that were spread along five different districts in the state. In the end, suggestions have been made as to improve the income of aquaculture farmers through the four proposed aquaculture extension approaches.

Keywords

Line Department Convergent Extension Approach, Marketing Extension Approach, Elementary Extension and Commodity Specific Approach, Media Facilitated Extension Approach

Conclusion

The factor analysis helps in understanding the factors and variables associated with increasing the income of fish farmers that further helps in manifesting the strategies required in aquaculture extension. The following six steps are suggested to build up a strategy for aquaculture extension. Firstly, the pond owners in our area may be identified, as they are likely to increase the income. Secondly, specific support in fisheries by ATMA should be extended to the pond owners identified, in the form of trainings, demonstrations, exposure visits, farmer-scientist interactions, rewards and incentives and any other innovative activities (SAMETI, Mizoram, 2017), as these activities have significantly increased the income of the fish farmers. The performance of all the selected farmers for such activities may be assessed and scored. Additionally, the increase in investment by the fish farmer and their corresponding increase in income may also be assessed. Thirdly, the best performing farmer can be made as Farmers Friend (FF) (Manage, 2014). Demonstrations and on-farm trials can be organized in consultation with local Farm Science Centres in the ponds of FFs. Funds can also be mobilized through the Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) as a reward to increase their investment habit for getting more returns. The selected FFs, who are able to standardize the technology and who are able to explain their personal experience in fish farming methods to other farmers, may further be graduated as trainers in Farmers Field School (FFS). Extension professionals in consultation with such trainers may develop the syllabus for each FFS for its implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Fourthly, the issues related to fish marketing, need to be addressed (Jasbin and Radhika 2016), by organizing exposure visits of the farmers to different wholesalers and retailers, so that the network in the value chain can be strengthened. Fifthly, success stories in production and marketing can be documented (Searles et al., 2018). These literatures may help in developing extension material in print and electronic media that can be effectively used through ICT. For developing such literature, some educated fish farmers can be designated as FFs and rewarded accordingly. Sixthly, there is a need to integrate extension programmes across the line departments like, agriculture and livestock to address the factor one. All the line departments may join together to conduct awareness programme at the district level. They can also empower the FFs with the knowledge on agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Further, they can monitor and evaluate such multipurpose FFs and FFSs, to see their impact on farmers’ income.

References

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How to cite this article

Nisha Elizabeth Joshua and S.N. Ojha (2023). Enabling Aquaculture Extension Strategy in Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 01-06.