The National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) was implemented during India's 12th Five Year Plan to amalgamate 17 agricultural schemes and promote the adoption of critical agricultural inputs and improved practices. It included four sub-missions focusing on agricultural extension, seeds and planting materials, mechanization, and plant protection. The mission aimed to make these key inputs more available and increase farmers' access to information through extension services using methods like farmer groups, demonstrations, and interactive digital technologies.

1. NATIONAL MISSION ON
AGRICULTURE EXTENSION
Presented by:-
Miss. Nishu Kanwar Bhati
Ph.D

2. “National Mission on Agricultural
Extension and Technology (NMAET)”
Agricultural Technology, including the adoption/
promotion of critical inputs, and improved agronomic
practices were being disseminated under 17 different
schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
during the 11th Plan. NMAET has been envisaged as the
next step towards this objective through the amalgamation
of these schemes.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme “National Mission on
Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)” was
implemented during the XII Plan.

3. Sub Mission
on
Agricultural
Extension
(SMAE)
Sub-Mission
on Seed and
Planting
Material
(SMSP)
Sub Mission
on
Agricultural
Mechanizatio
n (SMAM)
Sub Mission
on Plant
Protection
and Plant
Quarantine
(SMPP)

4. The common threads running across
all 4 Sub-Missions are Extension &
Technology. Seeds, pesticides and
machinery are three important
agricultural inputs whose
technological and economic
significance needs to be disseminated
to all the farmers through efficacious
extension machinery. However, besides
the core component of ensuring easy
availability of these key inputs (i.e.
Seeds, Pesticides and Machinery) at
reasonable prices, there will be a
subject specific capacity building
element built in the latter three Sub-
Missions as well.

5. Farmers Interest
Groups (FIGs)
and Farmer
Producer
Organizations
(FPOs).
Availability of
quality seeds,
plant protection
Interactive
methods of
information
dissemination,
Popularisation
of modern and
appropriate
technologies
AIM

6. Sub Mission on Agricultural
Extension (SMAE)
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension will focus on awareness creation
and enhanced use of appropriate technologies in agriculture & allied
sectors. Gains made in the past will be consolidated and strengthened
through increased penetration of extension functionaries. Personnel
trained under Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres Scheme (ACABC)
and Diploma in Agriculture Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI)
will also provide extension services to the farmers. Use of interactive and
innovative methods of information dissemination like pico projectors,
low cost films, handheld devices, mobile based services, Kisan Call
Centres (KCCs) etc. will be used and convergence brought among
extension efforts under different programmes and schemes at village
level through the institution of ATMA (Agriculture Technology
Management Agency) and Block Technology Teams (BTTs).

7. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material
(SMSP)
Adoption of quality seeds is the most cost effective means for increasing
agricultural production and productivity. The interventions included in
the Sub-Mission will cover the entire gamut of seed chain from nucleus
seed to supply to farmers for sowing and also to the major stakeholders in
the seed chain and also provide for support for infrastructure to create an
enabling environment for development of the Sector. SMSP also envisages
strengthening of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights
Authority (PPV&FRA) in order to put in place an effective system for
protection of plant varieties, rights of farmers and plant breeders and to
encourage development of new varieties of plants.

8. Sub Mission on Agricultural
Mechanization (SMAM)
There is a strong co-relation between farm power availability and
agricultural productivity. Therefore, Sub-Mission on Agricultural
Mechanization will focus on farm mechanization. The Sub-Mission will
mainly cater to the needs of the small and marginal farmers through
institutional arrangements such as custom hiring, mechanization of
selected villages, subsidy for procurement of machines & equipments, etc.

9. Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine
(SMPP)
Sub-Mission on Plant Protection included in NMAET envisages increase
in agricultural production by keeping the crop disease free using
scientific and environment friendly techniques through promotion of
Integrated Pest Management. Strengthening and Modernization of Pest
Management Approach aims at this vital aspect of Plant Protection and
also covers regulatory requirements of pesticides. The component on
Strengthening & Modernization of Plant Quarantine facilities in India is
regulatory in nature with the aim of preventing introduction and spread
of exotic pests that are harmful to crops by regulating/restricting import
of plant/plant products. Monitoring pesticide residues in food
commodities and environmental samples is also included in this Sub-
Mission. The component on National Institute of Plant Health
Management (NIPHM) will promote environmentally sustainable Plant
Health Management practices in diverse and changing agro-climatic
conditions, pesticide management, and Biosecurity through capacity
building programmes.

10. LINKAGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT SUB-MISSIONS
The gaps in all farmer centric trainings and field extension in respect of other
Sub-Missions of NMAET would also be included in the SREP. SREPs will be
prepared in coordination with the line departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs), Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Private Sector, farmers and other
stake-holders at the district level.
Funds earmarked for such activities under different Sub-Missions of NMAET,
Missions & Schemes / Programmes will be utilized through ATMA.
Manpower under ATMA will be effectively utilized for extension related
activities under various Sub-Missions.
Technical, legal, administrative & regulatory functions and other components
(not related to farmer centric extension) will continue to be discharged
independently under the respective Sub-Missions.

11. ILLUSTRATIVE LIST OF FARMER CENTRIC TRAININGS AND FIELD EXTENSION
SMSP SMAE SMAM SMPP
Seed
Village
Programme
Farm Schools, Demo
Plots, Trainings,
Exposure
Visits
Capacity Building by
Institutions
identified by
the State
Government
Pest Monitoring
(including Pest
Scouts),
FFSs, IPM Training to
Farmers

12. STRUCTURE OF MISSION
National Level Steering Committee
(Chaired by Sec. (A&C))
National Mission Director
(MNAET)—JS (Extn.)
Executive
Committee of
SMAE- Chaired
by JS (E)
Executive
Committee of
SMSP- Chaired
by JS (Seeds)
Executive
Committee of
SMAM- Chaired
by JS (M&T)
Executive
Committee of
SMPP- Chaired
by JS (PP)

13. Secretary (A&C), DAC
Addl. Secretary (Extn.), DAC
Additional Secretary (Seeds), DAC
Additional Secretary (M&T), DAC
Additional Secretary (PP), DAC
AS&FA, DAC
Advisor, Planning Commission
Joint Secretary (Extn.), DAC
Joint Secretary (Seeds), DAC
Joint Secretary (M&T), DAC
Joint Secretary (PP), DAC
DDG (Extn.), ICAR
DDG (Crops), ICAR
DDG (M&T), ICAR
DDG (PP), ICAR
Director (Extension)
– Chairperson
– Vice Chairperson
– Member
– Member
– Member
– Member
_ Member
– Member
– Member
–Member
–Member
–Member
–Member
–Member
–Member
–Member Secretary

14. NATIONAL MISSION ON AGRICULTURE
EXTENSION
Mission statement
“National Mission on Agricultural Extension shall support the
state governments, local bodies & institutions for enhancing
their capacity and institutionalizing structures & mechanisms
for a knowledge-driven, accountable, decentralized, broad-based
& participatory programme planning & implementation
to facilitate farmers, farmwomen & youth to achieve economic,
food, nutritional & environmental security and thus achieve
Plan objective of faster, sustainable and more inclusive
agricultural growth”

15. Salient features
The Mission shall focus on sustainable small farm agriculture,
especially in rainfed areas, through integrated farming systems approach
incorporating components of natural resource management, minimizing
external costs and maximizing realization through value addition in
crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries etc.
Programme implementation, convergence, service delivery and good
governance which are the central focus of 12th Plan, shall be the core
strategy of the Mission. Convergence shall be achieved through
Convergence of technologies by following the Integrated
Farming Systems approach
Convergence of schemes and programmes through project
approach to extension
Institutional convergence at national and state level through
cabinet sub-committees; and
Convergence at District level through representation of
various institutions of ATMA

16. Knowledge driven growth to be facilitated by
Providing quality extension resources at cutting-edge level along with
critical mass of extension personnel (one extension worker for about 1200
farmers) by supplementing public extension system with agripreneurs,
trained input dealers etc.;
Enhancing the extension efficiency and effectiveness by institutionalizing
Farmers Friends at village level;
Capacity building of farmers, extension functionaries, institutions and
other stakeholders on lifetime basis through a network of Knowledge
Centres like KVKs, Agriculture Research Stations etc.;
Partnering with knowledge generators (public & private, formal &
informal systems) to develop knowledge portals for capturing, collating and
disseminating knowledge through all channels including print & electronic
media, farm journals, regular meets etc.;
Reaching out to and connecting farmers and stakeholders so that they
communicate with each other; and
Test all indigenous technical know-how (ITKs), identify farmer
innovators, recognize their skills and leverage for field extension as farmer
consultants.

17. Precision, quantification and benchmarking, which facilitated growth of
modern economy, shall be incorporated in the Mission in various areas like
Delineating, coding and mapping farming situations, yield gaps, yield
variability;
Technology availability, adoption and impact directories and indices;
Indices of resource use efficiency;
Defining quantifiable capacity levels, testing and certifying capacity of
farmers, extension functionaries, trainers, institutions; and
Monetization of agriculture wealth of the district.

18. Inclusive growth shall be achieved through
Comprehensive framework of development of difficult areas and
disadvantaged groups of farmers on the highest priority by every sector
since the low yield in these areas (which otherwise have huge potential)
keeps the macro yields low;
Assessing gaps in infrastructure and development on each parameter
and bridging the gaps as per fixed time schedule;
Computing index of variancestandard deviation of growth along with
average growth to measure inclusion and prescribing inclusion as a
target along with average growth;
Constructing disadvantaged index and matrix to capture various
disadvantages for prioritizing resource allocation by every sector;
Prescribing allocation of mission resources to these groups eg
proportionate allocation to those belonging to SC, ST, small & marginal
farmers and women.

19. The human resource and infrastructure of SAU/ICAR/KVK and other
institutions shall be utilized to organize large scale frontline demonstrations of
technology under field conditions which serve as training arena for farmers &
extension functionaries. Concept of Challenge Approach should be developed
and implemented to realize the full potential of decentralized approach and
the zeal and capacity of various stakeholders to extend the frontiers of
possibilities of achievement for others to follow.
The Mission shall fully leverage power of ICT for linking every component
of the Mission from national to field level, provide accountability and
empower farmers to demand & access service. Continuous contact with
farmers shall be established to provide knowledge & information; redress their
concerns & grievances; and capture ground reality for use in policy making &
improving delivery through
Farmers portal
Kissan Call Centres
Common Service Centres
Short message services
Community radio stations etc.

20. MANAGE, EEIs and SAMETIs have to be strengthened for aligning and
linking all their activities with the mission.
Leveraging youth for agriculture and generating employment in
providing on and off farm services through various interventions and
programs; pilot testing program of ‘full employment for youth in
agriculture’; developing concepts of employment budgeting and
employment mapping and designing technology models and extension
approach for attracting, stimulating and retaining youth in agriculture.
Launch “Jai Kisan” movement to mobilize every societal unit and generate
a national movement to support agriculture and give prestige to farming
through creating proper atmosphere.

21. Promote frugal household food and nutrition security through
counseling farmwomen and youth on scientific storage, processing &
value addition, food & water quality, better eating habits, maintain
personal & kitchen hygiene etc. to leverage the preventive healthcare
properties of food for frugal health care. Similarly promote urban
agriculture for tackling food inflation, and promoting nutrition,
livelihood and environmental security. Shift from concept of greening
to edible greening and landscaping to edible landscaping to converge
environment and food concerns.
Centre for agrarian distress and conflicts to track, study and
provide policy support to tackle distresses, such as suicides by farmers
and their indebtedness, farmers’ agitations, violence and conflicts and
other concerns through action research projects, challenge projects
and linkages with other institutions. Promote national outreach
through long term extension projects in developing countries as per
policy at the field level.

22. Mission Structure
The suggested implementation structure for the mission is as follows:
Joint Secretary (Extension) & Extension Commissioner as
mission leader
Mission will have appropriately constituted General Council
and Executive Council at the national level and supporting
structures at the state and the district levels
MANAGE to support mission implementation and monitoring
at National Level and EEIs & Zonal Project Directorates at
regional level.
Mini Missions to be located in MANAGE or with relevant
partner institutions
SAMETIs and the Directorate of Extension of SAUs, ATMAs /
KVKs to support mission implementation at State and District
levels respectively

23. Technology Solutions and Innovations
Extension Policy and Systems
Convergence, Programme Delivery, Governance and innovations
Manpower Planning, HRD and Accreditation
Leveraging E-governance, ICTs and Mass Media Support
Partnerships and Agripreneurship Development
National and International Collaboration
Jai Kisan-Mobilization for Farmers Empowerment
Women Empowerment, Household Food & Nutritional Security
Leveraging Youth in Agriculture
More Inclusive Growth-Difficult Areas and Difficult Groups
Agrarian distress and conflicts, INSTA response and Farm Studies
Foreseeing the foreseeable for instant and effective response

24. Overall Impact
The mission will result in a more efficient,
effective and relevant extension system that
supports producers to enhance
productivity, income and quality of life on
one hand and help achieve the plan
objectives of faster, sustainable and more
inclusive growths.

25. ATMA
NMAE
Mass Media
Support to
Agricultural
Extension
ACABC
Central Sector
Scheme on Extension
Support to Central
Institutions