The evaluation of impact of ATMA involve measuring the relationship between farmers’ knowledge, extent of skill with the adoption of better practices or farm technologies, utilization of inputs and ultimately increase farm productivity and profitability and the related improvement in farm. In this respect assessment of knowledge and skill and improvement thereof of ATMA beneficiaries in a particular place as the results of ATMA interventions as well translation of those knowledge and skill in higher level of adoption of farm and animal husbandry technologies is important feedback information for measurement of progress made by the programme. Hence, the present study was conducted purposefully in all four districts of Sikkim. A total of 240 respondents were selected randomly from the participants of ATMA programme as sample for the present study. A pretested and structured interview schedule was prepared for collecting data through personal interview. The data so collected were subjected to statistical analysis using mean, frequency, percentage, index value, t-test etc. and results were interpreted. The findings of the study reveal that after participation in ATMA programme most of the respondents were found to acquire high level of knowledge followed by medium level in agricultural and horticultural farm practices followed by majority of the respondents from livestock production acquire high and medium level of knowledge. It is also found that most of the respondents were having medium and high level of skill about agricultural and horticultural technologies and high and medium level of skill about livestock technologies after participation in ATMA programme. The results obtained from the study also indicate that majority of the respondents were having medium level and high level of adoption regarding agricultural and horticultural farm technologies and high and medium level of adoption of livestock technologies after participating in ATMA. | Impact of ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) in changing knowledge, skill and adoption behavior of farmers in Sikkim
