Introduction

The National Agricultural Extension System (NAES) in India is a multi-tiered, pluralistic, and integrated network of institutions and stakeholders designed to transfer agricultural innovations and technologies to farmers, ensuring improved productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods.

Structure of the national agricultural extension system

NAES in India functions at three main levels:

1. National Level Institutions

ICAR – Indian Council of Agricultural Research

🔹 Role:

• Apex body for coordinating agricultural research, education, and extension in India under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Sets the foundation for technology generation and validation before it is passed on to extension systems.

🔹 Key Extension Functions:

• Operates Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across all districts for technology assessment, refinement, training, and demonstration.
• Supports Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) to coordinate KVKs at the zonal level.
• Conducts Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) on new technologies.
• Promotes climate-resilient agriculture, natural farming, and integrated farming systems.

🔹 Importance:

• Ensures research-extension-farmer linkage (R-E-F linkage).
• ICAR plays a strategic and scientific leadership role in extension education and training.

DA&FW – Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

🔹 A major department under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare responsible for formulating policies, schemes, and programs related to agriculture and extension.

🔹 Key Responsibilities:

• Implementation of National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET).
• Oversees:
  • ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency)
  • Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms (SSEP-ER)
  • Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)
  • mKisan Portal
• Designs national schemes, monitors implementation by State Departments of Agriculture.

🔹 Importance:

• Ensures funding, policy direction, and coordination for national-level extension efforts.
• Bridges extension with other sectors like mechanization, seeds, and plant protection.

Directorate of Extension (DoE)

🔹 A technical wing of the DA&FW, responsible for capacity building, content development, training, and monitoring of extension activities.

🔹 Functions:

• Prepares training manuals, extension leaflets, and multilingual publications.
• Coordinates with State Agriculture Departments, SAUs, and KVKs for training programs.
• Organizes national-level extension events, workshops, and field days.
• Publishes Extension Digest and other informative materials for farmers and field staff.

🔹 Importance:

• Acts as the technical backbone of DA&FW’s extension activities.
• Provides standardized knowledge and materials for grassroots-level extension staff.

MANAGE – National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (Hyderabad)

🔹 Role:

• Established in 1987 as an autonomous institute under DA&FW.
• Functions as a Centre of Excellence for capacity building, policy research, and entrepreneurship development.

🔹 Key Programmes:

• PGDM (ABM): Flagship agribusiness management program.
• Training of Trainers (ToT) for extension officials.
• Nodal agency for Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) scheme.
• Conducts online certificate courses, e-learning modules, and international programs.

Extension Education Institutes (EEIs)

🔹 Number & Locations:

There are four EEIs in India, each covering specific zones:

🔹 Functions:

• Conduct refresher and orientation courses for middle-level extension personnel from state departments.
• Train on:
  • Extension methodology
  • Participatory techniques
  • Communication & ICT
  • Leadership and group dynamics
• Collaborate with SAUs, KVKs, NGOs, and other training institutes.

🔹 Importance:

• Enhance technical and managerial skills of grassroots and mid-level extension staff.
• Acts as a regional knowledge and training hub for extension delivery.

• When was ICAR established? 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
• Where is the headquarters of ICAR located? New Delhi
• Under which ministry does ICAR function? Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• What is the primary function of ICAR? Agricultural research, education, and extension.
• Which body is responsible for policy formulation in agriculture? DA&FW
• What is the role of the Directorate of Extension (DoE)? Coordination and monitoring of agricultural extension programs.
• Where is MANAGE (National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management) located? Hyderabad, Telangana in 1987
• What is the main function of MANAGE? Capacity building and training in agricultural extension.
• Which ICAR body coordinates KVKs? Agricultural Extension Division, ICAR
• What does ATMA stand for? Agricultural Technology Management Agency.
• Under which mission does ATMA operate? National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)
• Which program introduced the “Farm School on AIR”? Doordarshan with DoE
• What is the role of KVKs? On-farm testing, training, and frontline extension.

• State Level Institutions

State Departments of Agriculture (SDA)

• Main implementing agency for extension services at the state level.
• Disseminate technologies through field officers, input distribution, and subsidy programs.
• Responsible for implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) like:
  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
  • Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE)
• Conduct demonstrations, farmer training, and input supply.

State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)

First SAU: G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (1960), based on the Land-Grant Model of the USA.

Triple Mandate:

1. Teaching
2. Research
3. Extension Education

Extension Role:

• Conduct On-Farm Trials (OFTs) and Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs).
• Organize Krishi Melas, field days, and farmer-scientist interactions.
• Act as technical support institutions to KVKs and ATMAs.
• SAUs are the main source of technology generation and transfer in the public sector.

State Institutes of Agriculture Extension Training (SIAETs) Set up in each state under National Training Policy, following the recommendations of the National Commission on Agriculture (1976) and T&V System review (1985).

🔹 Functions:

• Provide in-service and pre-service training to field-level extension personnel (e.g., Agriculture Officers, VEWs).
• Develop training modules, manuals, and communication tools.
• Train staff in new extension methodologies such as:
  • Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
  • ICT tools in extension
  • Gender-sensitive extension

SIAETs serve as nodal agencies for continuous HRD (Human Resource Development) in agriculture extension.

ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency)

🔹 2005, under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) within National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET).

🔹 Pilot Phase: 1998-2005 in 28 districts under the Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD) component of the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP).

🔹 Role:

• District-level autonomous body for extension planning, convergence, and implementation.
• Prepares Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP).
• Promotes bottom-up, farmer-led, group-based, multi-agency extension approach.
• Facilitates coordination between:
  • State departments
  • KVKs
  • NGOs, private sector
  • Research institutions

ATMA is a pivotal institution for Decentralized Extension Reform.

• District and Block Level

3. Extension service providers

NAES involves multiple stakeholders beyond the public system:

1. Public Sector

• ICAR-KVKs
• DA&FW & State DoAs
• SAUs and ATARIs
• ATMA, SREP, Block/Village level teams

2. Private Sector

• Agri-input companies (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides)
• Contract farming firms
• ICT-enabled services (e.g., e-Choupal)

3. NGOs and Cooperatives

• BAIF, PRADAN, SEWA
• Dairy cooperatives, sugarcane cooperatives

4. Farmer-Based Organizations

• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
• Commodity Boards

5. ICT and Media

• Kisan Call Centres (KCC)
• mKisan Portal, Krishi Darshan
• Mobile Apps, YouTube, WhatsApp groups

4. Key programmes/systems under naes