Effectiveness of R-E-F-M linkage of Post T and V system and ATMA in Assam, India

The purpose of the paper was to assess the effectiveness of Research-Extension-Farmer-Market linkages of Post T and V system and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA). The study was conducted in Lakhimpur districts of Assam. The multistage sampling design was followed to collect data from 330 respondents. The linkage effectiveness was studied at district based on assessment of effectiveness by both the actors of a linkage on selected indicators related to the communication and interface activities. In the study, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) was a unit of research; for ATMA system ATMA personnel (DPD, BTM and ATM), was considered as the extension system and for Post T and V system DAO, SDAO, ADO and AEA were considered as the extension system. A method developed by Biam, K and Barman, U. (2015) was used to obtain linkage effectiveness scores. The findings indicate that the linkage between ATMA extension personnel and farmers was 79.43 per cent. In comparison, the linkage between post-T&V system extension personnel and farmers was 64.32 percent, indicating that extension personnel from both systems work in their respective locations to serve the farming community. However, the extension personnel from the ATMA model are contractually employed. The study suggested that it is the right time to merge ATMA model with the existing post-T&V system to form a single public extension system.