NIRD&PR to promote Agriculture Technology Assistants

Technology and extension are the key determinants of productivity in agriculture.

The challenge, however, lies in improving farmers' access to the right kind of timely information and reaching all farmers. Syngenta Foundation India (SFI) has been implementing successfully, a range of models designed to improve the farming practices and livelihoods of resource-poor smallholders. To scale up these models,the SFI has entered into a partnership with NIRD&PR to promote Agriculture Technology Assistants (ATA's) at the village level and to provide incubation support for agri entrepreneurs, bringing together the rural technologies, credit and market linkages.

The scope of the partnership includes, capacity building of rural youth as ATA's and Agri-Entrepreneurs and to offer placement support and link-up with related companies. The foundation course designed for ATA's is for 60 days, will be administered in the organizations empaneled with NIRD&PR and SFI. Post training, the candidates will be presented a

certificate and grade sheet by NIRD&PR and SFI, along with Agriculture Skills Council of India (ASCI ) certification.

As part of the understanding, in the first year-- 2016-17, at least 500 ATA's will be identified and trained across the country. This will be taken up in a cascading manner from the next year onwards.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr.W.R.Reddy ,Director General NIRD&PR and Dr. Baskar Reddy Executive Director, SFI in the presence of Mr Marco Ferrani, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation and Mr. Prakash Apte Chairman, Syngenta Foundation India.UNI VV KVV AK 2058

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-698114.Xml