Group Led Extension for Rural Development: A Perception Study of Common Interest Groups Under ATMA in Andhra Pradesh, India Neelam Hema Sarat Chandra1,*, Kadian K.S.2, Velagala Chandra Sekhar Naidu3 1Division of Dairy Extension, NDRI, Karnal, Haryana 2Dairy Extension Division, NDRI, Karnal 3Dairy Cattle Physiology Division, NDRI, Karnal, Haryana *Email: sarathchandra.neelam@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2017. Abstract Group led extension usually attempts to engage farmers in development programs to empower them and to make them control over their lives. It bridges the extension cum research system to the farming community and encouragers the dialogue from the deprived folks in the society through farmer tofarmer extension. In India ATMA like agencies trying to converge different extension service providing agencies, research institutes, NGOs, and other such agencies at district level with the farming communities. The needof farmers’ organization has grown importance in this connection. Recognizing the importance of this group led extension approach ATMA has developed several common interest groups and strengthening the existing groups by several ways. In this study attempt has been made to identify such groups and studied their perception about the group led extension service provided by the ATMA. Thisstudy was conducted in Andhra Pradesh state; three districts were taken into consideration for the data collection. Six common interest groups were identified and all members were interviewed for the purpose. Total 121 respondents opined their views; which are systematically analysed and presented in this paper. Top Keywords Group led extension, ATMA, common interest groups, Rural development. Top |