Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
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Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Shimla - India

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Launched in 1997 by the State Agriculture Department and funded by the World Bank, the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) initiated a programme to foster the economic development of farmers in Dharamsala, India through technical aid and various incentives. Groups of farmers have been formed as a result of training and demonstrations; these groups in turn execute small local projects involving agriculture, vegetable production, horticulture, animal husbandry, and floriculture (with technical support from ATMA).
Communication Strategies
Programme strategies, which include training sessions, demonstrations at farmers' fields, adaptive research trials on various aspects of production, exposure visits to farmers, and a media campaign, aim to accomplish the following goals:
  • diversifying and intensifying the exisiting farming system (by convincing farmers that they can pursue new enterprises that will be climatically and economically viable in their area)
  • improving the productivity of existing enterprises (by acquainting farmers with the impact of new technologies and proper management on productivity / income)
  • improving the sustainability of productivity and income (by motivating farmers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) or integrated nutrient management (INM) in paddy, vegetable, horticultural, and apple crops, as well as to to adopt new techniques of preparation like super digest compost, fodder conservation, plastic mulch, and raising of healthy fruit nursery plants).
In addition, skill improvement courses have been held for extension officers, input dealers and link workers of mahila groups, and personnel at universities; computer training has been conducted for officers and scientists; workshops have been organised on setting research priorities; vocational training has been provided.

ATMA works to strengthen institutional links by making district heads of line departments and research stations members of its policy-making, implementing, guiding, and supervisory committees. To that end, district heads and research units are provided with needed access to the internet, photocopier, almirahs, library books, fax machine, and office furniture.

Through the training sessions and other activities described above, farmers are empowered to create group organisations. 404 groups comprising 5318 members of 1160 villages have been constituted to redress their own problems. In an effort to ensure the financial sustainability of this programme, a small amount of money is charged to farmers who participate in trainings, exposure visits, demonstrations, and adaptive research trials, as well as literature. Farmers' investment is usually returned and exponentially increased in the form of cultivated, marketable produce or increased knowledge. Mass media - radio, television, printed advertisements, an exhibition, booklets, brochures, and a calendar - have been utilised to inform other farmers and the public about the ATMA's activities.
Development Issues
Agriculture, Economic Development, Technology.
Sources

ATMA Shimla site; June 26, 2002 story appearing in The Tribune India, posted to the Bytes-for-All Readers list server on June 26, 2002.

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/1999 - 00:00 Permalink

for causeling

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/1999 - 00:00 Permalink

for causeling

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/23/2004 - 12:37 Permalink

Dear,

I presume that we have not met neither have we communicated before.Firstly, my name is Mary Okonta I am the wife of late Micheal Okonta . My late husband Micheal Okonta who was a business tycoon based here in Cote d' Ivoire was also the chairman Executive Hills Hotels died last month at the age of 49 after a brief illness at Eko Hospital here in Cote D'Ivoire Could you believe that the tradition and costum of the town and state where my late husband came from demands that any woman who does not have a male child for the husband, that when ever the husband dies, all the properties including cash will be shared among the late husband brothers and the woman will be sent out the husband house for good.

My dear, this is exactly what I am going through right now since last month my husband died. My late husband brothers has taken all the properties belonging to my late husband including bank account and as well sent me out of my husband house just because I do not have a male child for my late husband. This is a weaked tradition and believe.As am talking to you now,

I and my two daughters are going through hell at the moment.Right now, I am having in my possition all the vital documents relating to the sum of $9.5 million dollars which my late husband deposited with a One the Security Company in Europe , in a truck boxes as family valuables and he made all the vital documents with my name as the next of kin before his death.For your information we did not disclosed the real content of the boxes to the security company and we do not wish them to know the contend of the truck boxes for security seasons. last week I contacted the manager of the Security Company and I was told that the truck bosex is very much intact, that I can as well come for it any time I feel like.Please remember that I cannot make use of this fund here due to forces surounding me at the moment. Please have mercy at the poor widow like me and help me out of this mess.

All I want you to do for me is to provide me with your full contact information so that I can direct the Director of the security company to lift this truck boxes to your end as the finally destination you provide to into your distination immediately before my Late husband brothers will have knowledge of it and claim it just like the way they did to others. I strongly believe that the only way I can secure this money for myself is to act fast now and lift this money overseas, that is the main reason why I am contacting you for your assistance.

Please, as soon as this fund is lifted into your country , you can go ahead and have 10% for your time and patience to help. Remember hat my hildren are the only happiness I have here on earth and I cannot watch them suffer like this.Please if you are willing to help, kindly reply me.

I look forward to hearing from you immediately.

Sincerely,
Mrs mary okonta
maryokonta@voila.fr