ATMA — Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms (Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension): farmer training, demonstrations, exposure visits and awards
Funded in the 2026-27 Union Budget: Output Outcome Monitoring Framework 2026-27 (Union Budget) (undated, 5. Krishionnati Yojana (CSS), financial outlay 2026-27 ₹11,200 crore; d. Agriculture Extension, output 2. "Farmers’ training and extension support to States under ATMA (CSS)", target 2026-27: 15,91,088 beneficiaries trained, 2,57,527 farmers given demonstrations)
Through the district ATMA, farmers can get free trainings (up to ₹1,500 a day), demonstrations on their field (up to ₹6,000), exposure visits, best-farmer awards of ₹10,000 to ₹50,000, and farmer groups ₹25,000 of seed money.
- Lead benefit
- ₹1,500a day, inter-State training (free to you)
- Components
- 8each read from the document
- Who can apply
- Allapplicants
- Closing date
- Noneapply any time
What it pays
Free farmer training paid by ATMA: up to 7 days in another State (₹1,500 a day), up to 5 days within the State (₹1,250 a day) or 2 days in the district (₹500 a day), including travel, food, stay and training kit.
What the document says, word for word
The cost norm covers the farmer's travel, meals, stay, venue, training material, kit and inputs (Annexure-V(a) B.2 remarks, p.84). District-level training is RPL-based and gives a certificate of progressive farmer (B.2(c), p.85). At least 50% of beneficiaries must be small and marginal farmers and 30% women farmers; individual beneficiaries of demonstrations and trainings are selected by the Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat, Panchayats being covered by rotation (cl. 9.3(ii)(a)–(e), pp.53–54).
“Training of farmers for maximum period of 7days. a) Inter-State Rs.1500/farmer/day b) Within State Rs.1250/farmer/day c) Within district Rs.500 RPL based training /farmer/day”A demonstration of a new practice on about one acre (0.4 ha) of your field, or in an allied activity, worth up to ₹6,000, paid by ATMA.
What the document says, word for word
A Soil Health Card / soil test is mandatory for a demonstration (B.3 remarks, p.85). At least 50% of beneficiaries must be small and marginal farmers and 30% women farmers; individual beneficiaries of demonstrations and trainings are selected by the Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat, Panchayats being covered by rotation (cl. 9.3(ii)(a)–(e), pp.53–54).
“Demonstrations a) Demonstration (Agri.) Rs. 6000/ demonstration of 1 acre b) Demonstration (allied sector) Rs. 6000/ demonstration”A free exposure visit to see good farms and institutes: in another State (₹1,500 a day), within the State (₹1,000 a day) or within the district (₹500 a day), travel and stay paid.
What the document says, word for word
In North-Eastern and Himalayan States the norm is ₹2,000 a day (inter-State) and ₹1,250 a day (within State). An inter-State visit lasts at most 7 days, within State 5 days and within district 1 day, excluding travel; the cost is limited to actual travel and boarding/lodging (B.4, pp.85–86). At least 50% of beneficiaries must be small and marginal farmers and 30% women farmers; individual beneficiaries of demonstrations and trainings are selected by the Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat, Panchayats being covered by rotation (cl. 9.3(ii)(a)–(e), pp.53–54).
“Exposure visit of farmers- maximum duration of 5 days excluding travel time Inter State Rs.1500/farmer/day Within the State Rs.1000/farmer/day Within District Rs.500/farmer/day”A State-level best-farmer award of ₹50,000 a year for farmers who excel in an area of agriculture or allied activity.
What the document says, word for word
“A.7 (a) Farmer Awards – Best farmers representing different areas of agriculture State level per year per farmer 0.50 5.00 10 farmers per state @2 farmers per activity”A district-level best-farmer award of ₹25,000 a year for farmers who excel in an area of agriculture or allied activity.
What the document says, word for word
“B.6 Farmer Awards Per year per farmer District level 0.25 2.50 lakh per Block 10 farmers per District @2 farmers per activity”A block-level best-farmer award of ₹10,000 a year for farmers who excel in an area of agriculture or allied activity.
What the document says, word for word
“B.6 Farmer Awards Per year per farmer … Block level 0.10 0.50 lakh per Block Best farmers representing different enterprises at Block Level.”Seed money or a revolving fund of ₹25,000 for a viable farmer group (interest group, women’s group, farmer organisation or cooperative), chosen competitively.
What the document says, word for word
Only viable groups, on a competitive basis; about 8 groups per block a year (₹2 lakh per block ceiling).
“B.5 Mobilization of farmer groups of different types including Farmer Interest Groups, Women Groups, Farmer Organizations, Commodity Organizations, and Farmer Cooperatives etc. … (b) Seed money /revolving fund Per group 0.25 2.00 per Block Only to viable groups on competitive basis”Seed money of ₹25,000 for an all-women farmers’ Food Security Group to grow household food-security (kitchen) gardens; two such groups per block every year.
What the document says, word for word
The money goes to the group, not to one member.
“(c) Food Security Groups Per group 0.25 0.50 per Block 2 FSGs/Block is mandatory. These will be all women farmers’ groups and Seed Money will be given for Household food security garden.”How much can I claim?
Training paid for you at up to ₹1,500 a day (inter-State), ₹1,250 (within State) or ₹500 (within district).
The cost norm covers the farmer's travel, meals, stay, venue, training material, kit and inputs (Annexure-V(a) B.2 remarks, p.84). District-level training is RPL-based and gives a certificate of progressive farmer (B.2(c), p.85). At least 50% of beneficiaries must be small and marginal farmers and 30% women farmers; individual beneficiaries of demonstrations and trainings are selected by the Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat, Panchayats being covered by rotation (cl. 9.3(ii)(a)–(e), pp.53–54).
Who can apply
- All applicants
Papers you need
- Soil Health Card / soil test report (for a demonstration)
How to apply
- Contact the Block Technology Manager / Block Technology Team or the district ATMA office (Project Director, ATMA); the scheme runs in every district (cl. 9.1, p.53).
- Ask your Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat to put your name forward — it selects individual beneficiaries of demonstrations and trainings, and all farmer-group beneficiaries (cl. 9.3(ii)(e), p.54).
- For a demonstration, keep your Soil Health Card ready (Annexure-V(a) B.3, p.85).
- Farmer groups seeking seed money apply to the ATMA, which chooses viable groups competitively (B.5(b), p.86).
Applying is free. Never pay anyone to apply for you.
When to apply
The guidelines set no closing date.
Combining with other schemes
The documents do not say whether this can be combined with other schemes. Ask the implementing office before you count on both.