International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
CB Damor, MR Patel and DM Rathod

abstract
The National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) has framed for pilot testing new institutional arrangements for technology dissemination at the district level and below, through establishment of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) as an autonomous organization providing flexible working environment. In Gujarat State, all districts have been selected for ATMA project as a part of the Innovations in Technology Dissemination (ITD) component of the project. Since the past fifteen years, the ATMA has been running in Gujarat. ATMA plays a crucial role in enhancing the productivity and sustainability of agriculture by bridging the gap between research and the farming community. For better outcomes from ATMA projects activities, participation of farmers necessary. There should be some motivations to attract farmers to involve in ATMA activities. It is fact that to get benefits of ATMA projects, the farmers must have to join in FIGs and Keeping in mind above fact it is crucial to study motivational factors to join FIGs and constraints faced by beneficiary tribal farmers in obtaining benefits of Agricultural Technology Management Agency. The present study was carried out in middle Gujarat. The four tribal Districts Dahod, Panchmahals, Mahisagar and Chhotaudepur of middle Gujarat were selected purposively for present study. From each selected district two talukas were selected purposively. From each selected talukas, two villages were selected randomly. Thus, total sixteen villages were selected. Fifteen respondents from each selected village were selected. Thus, total 240 respondents were selected randomly from those four Districts. The result of study revealed that motivational factor to join FIG were; for getting the latest information of agril. & allied fields ranked first among all the motives. It was reported by the (90.00%) respondents of FIGs. The next motives in order of priority were, for getting supplement income (81.66%). Major constraints faced by the ATMA beneficiary tribal farmers were; the demonstrations should not be supplied in enough numbers and with larger unit areas (89.50%), latest information regarding value addition in agriculture is not provided timely (81.66%). Major suggestion given by the ATMA beneficiary tribal farmers were; the demonstrations should be supplied in enough numbers and with larger unit areas (90.00%), Information on value addition in agriculture should be provided (85.41%), recent knowledge about the latest technologies should be covered during the training programmes (76.66%).