Gangtok, Apr 19: A joint meeting of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Governing Body, Monitoring Committee, and District Farmers Advisory Committee (DFAC) was held on Saturday at the District Administrative Centre (DAC) in Pakyong.

Chaired by Pakyong District Collector Rohan Agawane, who also serves as the Chairman of the ATMA Governing Body, the meeting focused on reviewing the progress of agricultural programmes and advancing farming techniques under the ATMA schemes. Agawane discussed the concept of Farmers Friend and Farm Schools at the block level, offering insights into the challenges faced by stakeholders.

The Additional Director and Project Director of ATMA, Tshering Chopel Bhutia, provided a comprehensive overview of ATMA’s structure and functions. He highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the ATMA Governing Body, the Monitoring Committee, and DFAC in enhancing agricultural extension services and supporting the farming community.

Rebecca Gurung, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department and Deputy Project Director of ATMA Pakyong, presented the 2024–2025 Annual Progress Report. She detailed fund utilisation and activities conducted under ATMA across all five blocks of Pakyong District, which included training sessions, awareness drives, farm schools, and skill development initiatives.

The session concluded with an open discussion where committee members shared feedback and suggestions for ongoing and upcoming agricultural initiatives.

Officials from KVK East Sikkim, the AH&VS, Horticulture, and Fisheries Departments, along with Block Technology Managers and Assistant Technology Managers, also attended the meeting.