ATMA Agricultural Extension Statistics: Farmers Trained and Funds Released
· 1 min read · 4 official sources
The ATMA agricultural extension scheme reached 36.80 lakh farmers through trainings, demonstrations, exposure visits and kisan melas in 2023-24, with 12,08,559 farmers trained, according to Lok Sabha answers of the Agriculture Ministry. Rs 632.42 crore was released to states that year. Year-wise and state-wise figures are below.
Agricultural Extension (ATMA Scheme): key numbers
Infographic
Farmers trained and funds released under ATMA, 2019-20 to 2023-24
All-India farmers trained and central funds released to states under ATMA each year, from Annexures IA and IB of the Lok Sabha answer of 10 December 2024.
| Year | Farmers trained | Funds released (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 13,27,075 | 594.31 |
| 2020-21 | 13,88,416 | 624.88 |
| 2021-22 | 13,59,069 | 552.82 |
| 2022-23 | 14,28,446 | 475.37 |
| 2023-24 | 12,07,207 | 632.42 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 31 March 2024
Top 12 states by farmers trained under ATMA (2023-24)
Farmers trained and ATMA funds released in 2023-24 for the 12 states with the most farmers trained, from the same Lok Sabha answer.
| State | Farmers trained | Funds released (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 3,18,840 | 42.79 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1,37,358 | 114.41 |
| West Bengal | 1,22,531 | 41.52 |
| Maharashtra | 1,12,285 | 32.50 |
| Bihar | 1,06,847 | 48.81 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 74,582 | 34.47 |
| Kerala | 56,706 | 10.90 |
| Gujarat | 42,543 | 25.65 |
| Karnataka | 36,094 | 20.37 |
| Assam | 28,419 | 19.80 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 25,364 | 6.33 |
| Uttarakhand | 21,275 | 11.53 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 31 March 2024
Farmers benefited by ATMA activity (2023-24)
All-India number of farmers covered by each type of ATMA extension activity in 2023-24, from the Lok Sabha answer of 11 February 2025.
| Activity | Farmers benefited |
|---|---|
| Kisan Mela, FSI and KG | 15,11,648 |
| Training | 12,08,559 |
| Exposure visit | 4,31,495 |
| Farm school | 2,88,500 |
| Demonstration | 2,17,568 |
| Farmers Interest Groups | 22,410 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 31 March 2024
How ATMA reaches a farmer
What the numbers show
ATMA, formally Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms, is the Centre's main scheme for farm extension. It does not pay farmers directly. It funds free trainings, demonstrations, exposure visits, kisan melas and farm schools run by district ATMA units. In 2023-24 these activities reached 36,80,180 farmers, and 12,08,559 of them were trained, according to a Lok Sabha answer of 11 February 2025. The Centre released Rs 632.42 crore to states that year.
The trend over the years
Training numbers have stayed in a narrow band. About 13.3 lakh farmers were trained in 2019-20, 13.9 lakh in 2020-21 and 14.3 lakh in 2022-23, the highest in the period. The 2023-24 figure was lower. Note that two answers give slightly different 2023-24 totals: 12,07,207 in the December 2024 reply and 12,08,559 in the February 2025 reply, which is the later figure.
Fund releases moved more sharply. They fell from Rs 624.88 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 475.37 crore in 2022-23, then rose to Rs 632.42 crore in 2023-24.
State differences
Tamil Nadu stands out, training 3,18,840 farmers in 2023-24 on a release of Rs 42.79 crore. Uttar Pradesh received the largest release, Rs 114.41 crore, and trained 1,37,358 farmers. Some states reported very small numbers in 2023-24, such as Telangana with 105 farmers trained and Rajasthan with 945, after much higher figures in earlier years.
What the figures do not tell you
A farmer who attends two activities may be counted twice, so the "farmers benefited" total is a count of participations, not of unique people. The figures also do not measure whether farmers changed their practices or earned more after the training.
Where to check the numbers
State and year-wise ATMA data appear in answers to Parliament questions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The scheme portal extensionreforms.da.gov.in has guidelines and state contacts.
Frequently asked questions
How many farmers are trained under ATMA every year?
Between 12 and 14.3 lakh farmers a year were trained under ATMA from 2019-20 to 2023-24. The figure was 14,28,446 in 2022-23 and 12,08,559 in 2023-24, according to Lok Sabha answers.
How much money does the Centre release under ATMA?
The Centre released Rs 632.42 crore to states and UTs under ATMA in 2023-24, up from Rs 475.37 crore in 2022-23.
Which state trains the most farmers under ATMA?
Tamil Nadu trained 3,18,840 farmers in 2023-24, far more than any other state. Uttar Pradesh trained 1,37,358 and received the largest fund release of Rs 114.41 crore.
How many districts have ATMA?
ATMA is implemented in 740 districts of 28 states and 5 Union Territories, according to a Lok Sabha answer of 12 August 2025.
What kinds of activities does ATMA fund?
ATMA funds farmer trainings, demonstrations, exposure visits, kisan melas, Farmers Interest Groups and farm schools. Kisan melas and similar events reached the most farmers in 2023-24, at 15,11,648.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Agricultural Extension (ATMA Scheme) full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/183/AU2347_WjP7Za.pdf?source=pqals)
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AU1335_ZNGxQ6.pdf?source=pqals)
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/185/AS340_Ms7Nka.pdf?source=pqals)
- extensionreforms.da.gov.in (extensionreforms.da.gov.in/)