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Rythu Mithra Groups

	Government of Andhra Pradesh proposes to bring about holistic development in the lives of the marginalized and vulunerable small and marginal men and women farmers by facilitating and strengthening collective action. Department of Agriculture, with its paramount responsibility for Agriculture development of the state and its farmers, has taken the lead for organizing farmers into “Rythu Mithra Groups”.              It is proposed to form 11570 Rythu Mithra Groups (RMG) in the District, so far 11547 RMGs were formed in the District for effective functioning of these groups it is necessary to give orientation to them.              ATMA, Chittoor has proposed to give orientation programme to the Convener and Co-Convener of the Rythu Mithra Group.  RELEASE OF RYTHU MITHRA KARADEEPIKA BY THE HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF A.P.:             ATMA, Chittoor has prepared a Karadeepika for the conveners / co-conveners of Rythu Mithra Groups (RMGs) duly highlighting the role and objective of Rythu Mithra Groups. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri N.Chandrababu Naidu has released the “Karadeepika” on 12-9-2003 at Kuppam.               ATMA, Chittoor has taken initiative to give orientation to all the 11,570 No. of Rythu Mithra Groups Conveners / Co-conveners in the District. Four Groups of Master trainees are identified as Resource Persons. Each group consists of one Assistant Director of Agriculture, one RARS Scientist, one Representative from Velugu, one Representative from Rastriya Seva Samithi (RASS-CARE), Tirupati and concerned Agricultural Officers. All the Master trainees were given two days orientation as trainers training on 10th  & 11th September.              State Employment Generation and DWCRA Minister Sri B.Gopalakrishna Reddy inaugurated the two-day Training programme to the Officials to Strengthen the Rythu Mithra Groups on the lines of DWCRA groups on 10-9-2003 at Tirupati.              Four teams have been constituted each comprising of four officers besides mandal Agricultural Officers and those belonging to the horticulture department.
	The Officials of the Agricultural Department and resource persons from Rashtriya Seva Samiti (RASS) has trained as many as 80 officials of the agriculture and Horticulture Departments. These Officials will train the Conveners / Co-conveners of Rythumithra Groups to various aspects of farming, water conservation, pest management, loan mobilisation, thrift promotion, etc., at the mandal level from 15th to 30th September, 2003 at 4mandals in a day simultaneously. ATMA, Chittoor has also prepared & printed a Karadeepika and distributing to all the Rythu Mithra Groups (RMG’s) in the District.

          Farmers Organizations (FOs) would be encouraged at village level and village level groups would, inturn, evolve into Commodity Associations (CAs), Marketing Cooperatives and other types of FOs at the block and District level. At village level Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and Farmers Associations (FAs) will be effectively involved in the preparation of block action plans. These organisations will coordinate in organising demonstrations, on-farm and adaptive trails and give feedback to the extension and research. Their representatives would be directly involved in the Block Level FACs and also at Governing Board of ATMA. The GB of ATMA would select and utilise project funds to support one or more NGOs to assist different types of farmers in becoming organised into different types of FOs within the district.

           Farmer Advisory Committees (FACs) constituted for providing a formal feedback mechanism. It would be constituted representing all major stakeholders and farmer representatives of Farmers Organizations (FOs) within the block. 

           ATMA - Chittoor, buildings the Farmers Information & Advisory Centres (FIAC) are to be constructed for the benefit of farmers as well as to the Block Level officers of the line department in all the 20 Erstwhile Blocks formed where in, the Computers with internet facilities will be provided in these centres. In these centres the farmers Advisory Committee members and Line Departmental Officials (B.T.T. Members) will meet and formulate the Block Action Plan and guide the farmers. This centres will also act as focal point for transfer of Technology effectively. 

GROUP ACTIVITIES

GREEN FODDER CULTIVATION

              Dairy is one of the important sectors and primary source of income to the farmers in the district. Due to non-receipt of rainfall and prevailing drought situation, availability of green fodder is a problem.

             The women dairy farmers of Penumur village of G.D.Nellore Block have formed ATMA Farmers Interest Group. Most of the group members are land less labourers and represented to provide loan amount for leasing of land to raise green fodder. ATMA has provided Rs.2000/- to the group to take up the land on lease. The group members have leased the land and raised Fodder Jowar SSG5912 and Maize African Tall in the plot.

            The group has successfully raised the green fodder crop in the based land and fed the milk animals, there by increased their milk yield. The loan amount will be paid to the ATMA in installments. The scheme is a success and other groups in the mandal are also showing interest to raise the green fodder.