Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)

Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)

Dr.J.Meenambigai

Assistant Professor

Today for every technology importance of an appropriate information package and its dissemination as an input has assumed added emphasis in this “information age”.  The kind of information and the way it is to be used are critical factor to the growth of agriculture.  It is also worth noting that it is no longer enough for research to generate information alone.  The required information is also to be delivered to the end user at one place.  This information must be direct, clear and easily understandable and without any room for distortion.  There is a greater need for coordination between researchers and technology users.  The linkage mechanism should be with formal, permanent, mandated, facilitated and designated function.  The establishment of an Agricultural Technology Information Centre will provide such a mechanism beyond the individual unit of a research institution to contribute to the dissemination of the information.  This will serve as a single window delivery system for services and products of research for the areas in which the concerned institute is involved.

ATIC

The Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) is a “single window” support system linking the various units of a research institution with intermediary users and end users (farmers) in decision making and problem solving exercise.

History of ATIC

It was first started at Bhopal in 1999, next to that 16 centres were started in 2000.  At present 44 centres where running.  It was developed and fully funded by ICAR.

ATIC Centres

There are 44 centres in India, 16 centres under ICAR institute, 28 centres under State Agriculture University.  From which Two at Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu

Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (TANVASU), Chennai - 600 007, Tamil Nadu.

Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), Directorate of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore – 641003, Tamilnadu.

ATIC – Disciplinewise

ATIC can be classified based on discipline, Agriculture - 33, Horticulture - 3, Animal husbandry - 7 and Agricultural engineering - 1.

Objectives 

·           To provide a ‘single window delivery’ system for technology and products for accelerating the rate of adoption and for easy accessibility to end-users.

·           To facilitate direct access for the visitors of the institutional resources available in terms of technology, advice, products etc. for reducing technology dissemination losses.

·           To help farmers and entrepreneurs in problem solving and decision-making.

·           To create a strong linkage between different research divisions / units and users of the technology.

·           To provide an elaborative views of improved technologies through published literature and other communication materials such as audio and video facility.

·           To provide mechanism for feed back from users to the institute.

·           To render farm advisory services through multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

·           To offer consultancy service to the different stake holders.

·           To offer training to unemployed youth.

·           To function as a repository of agricultural information.

Rules and Regulations for ATIC

·           Needs to be demand-driven & well integrated with the research system and financially sustainable.

·           It should provide help to all types of clients and end users with emphasis on resource poor and other disadvantaged groups to enable them to make their life sustainable and sufficient.

·           It should have minimum preliminary facilities for carrying out diagnostic services.  eg: soil and water testing.

·           It should maintain proper records of the information about the farmers, his village and the purpose of his visit record on day-to-day basis.

·           It should provide proper financial management and accounting procedure developed and maintained to assess correctly about the input expenditure and generation of income from the establishment of ATIC.

·           It should have web-site about the technological information are updated periodically.

Fig. 14 : Management Structure of Agricultural Technology

Information Centre

 

Fig. 15: Functional Structure of Agricultural Technology           

Information Centre

(ATIC)

Specific Activities

·           Distribution of Un-priced publications

·           Sale of Priced Publications

·           Sale of seedling and planting materials

·           Sale of bio-fertilizers

·           Sale of processed farm products

·           Sale of food products

·           Sale of fish feed

·           Sale of Video Cassettes / CD

·           Information dissemination through Agricultural Equipment Display Center.

·           Information dissemination through exhibitions and manufacturers meet.

·           Collection of Feedback and its Transmission.

Services

Diagnosis and Advisory Service 

·           Diagnosis of plants / crops problem

·           Management of field problems

·           Analysis of soil samples

·           First hand information to approaching farmers

Kisan Call Centre

·           Advising farmers for problems through helpline (Toll free 1551 and 01771551)

·           Rendering services of university matters to general public.

Training Programmes / Activities

·           Training of farmwoman & farmers for providing scientific information

·           Lectures to students

·           Introductory talk to approaching farmers on working of ATIC

·           Participation in state festivals & exhibitions

·           Training to students is provided on diagnosis of crop disorders and establishing links with the farmers.

Publications and Materials

·           Pamphlets

·           Leaflets

“Balanced Score Card” for ATIC

·           Financial – Resource generation and financial sustainability;

·           Customers – measures on performance of the technology from the customer’s point

·           Process – the performance of key internal processes in terms of providing quality services, seed and plant materials, etc. linkage with district extension system and, spread of improved technology and productivity in the area: and

·           Learning – the ability of the research organization to improve continuously and innovate in its products, services and processes.

Table – 17 : Some ATIC Centers & Their Functions

ATIC	Major functions	Major services
Tamilnadu Agricultural University (TNAU)	Supplying inputs with technology to farmers	Books, improved seeds and farm implements
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANVASU)	Providing information, services and products developed from this university to the needy persons under single window system.	Products Livestock: Piglets, Rams, Bucks, Rabbit, Broiler chicks, Turkey poultry, Fancy birds & Cat fish.
	Facilitating easy access to the farmers to the institutional resources available in terms of technology, products like different strains of livestock, poultry, fodder seeds, planting materials, animal clinic and other diagnostic services.	Feed: Concentrate feeds like Broiler Starter, Broiler Finisher, Brooder Mash, Grower Mash, Japanese Quail Layer, Turkey Grower, Turkey Adult, Turkey Brooder, Calf feed, Milch Cattle feed, Swine feed, and Rabbit pellet
	Providing mechanism of feedback for the technologies disseminated and to serve as a link between the research institute and the end users.	Seeds, Seedlings & Slips: Fodder seeds like Subabul, Stylo haemata, Stylo scabra, Desmanthus, Lucerne, African tall maize and Agathi.
		Fodder saplings and seedlings of Subabul and Glyricidia. Fodder slips of Co 1, Co 2, and Co 3.
		Value Added Livestock & Fishery products: Flavoured milk, Butter milk, Ghee, Paneer, Yogurt, Whey drink, Khoa Fish pickle, Prawn pickle, Masimeen.
		Glass aquarium tank and other aquarium accessories are also being sold at ATIC for the benefit of new ornamental fish farmers.

		Services Regular Advisory services in livestock and fisheries farming, agriculture and products preparation are being offered to the farmers visiting the ATIC.
		Diagnostic services Animal clinic: Various livestock diseases and disorders and parasitic problems are being treated and control measures are given to the farmers.
		Plant clinic: Suggestions are being given to cure various plant diseases
		Vaccines and Diagnostic Kits: Poultry and livestock vaccines and diagnostic kits developed by TANUVAS are being supplied to the veterinary practitioners and entrepreneurs.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)	Seed sale, farm information, publication, bulletin, museum etc.	Pusa seeds, Training in enterprises
Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)	Single window system catering to the needs of farmers on technology, information, services and inputs	Planting materials of Coconut, Arecanut etc., publications on improved cultivation practice of various crops, diagnostic services, Soil & water testing etc.
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU)	Sale of planting materials, Sale of products, technologies, books	Seeds, Nursery plants, Medicinal plants, Plantation crops, Spices, Vegetable plants, Dairy products, Compost, Ornamental fish, Processed food, Meat & Poultry products, Spawn, Bio-pesticides.

Thus ATICs serve as a “single window delivery system” for farmers, farmwomen and students to transfer the new technologies.  Though this large number of visitors for processed products, under diagnostic services, treatment of animals and crop pest management were major activities when compared with other activities and in advisory services personal visits of farmers and scientists field visits are the major activities.  Recently telephone help-line were running successfully with other advisory services.