Aquaculture Development through Agricultural Technology Management Agency

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) as a decentralised extension approach, aimed at supporting farmers, gained momentum in Kerala in India since 2010. The present study was conducted in five selected districts in Kerala. Primary data was collected from 225 fish farmers, engaged in ornamental and food fish culture and who availed various kinds of support through ATMA. Demographic characteristics of fish farmers were studied. ATMA provided support to fish farmers in the form of training, demonstration, exposure visit, farmer scientist interaction, farm schools, rewards and incentives, agriclinics, district level training institutions, farmer interest groups and farm information dissemination activities. The perceived changes gained through ATMA were studied, to find that fish farmers were in need of marketing and financial support.