ATMA is a registered society of key stakeholders involved in agricultural activities for sustainable agricultural development in the district. It is a focal point for integrating Research and Extension activities and decentralizing day to day management of the public Agricultural Technology System(ATS). ATMA covers activities in agriculture and allied sectors adopting a farming sysytem approach and convergence of programmes of related departments and instituitions. In Kerala ATMA is an autonomous instituition formed and registered at district level under Travancore- Cochin Literary Scientific Charitable Societies Activities1955. ATMA has two bodies viz. ATMA Governing board (GB) that determines programme priorities and assess the programme impact. The executive head of ATMA is known as the Project Director and who reports directly to the ATMA Governing Board.

ATMA at the district level is responsible for all the technology dessimination activities. It maintains a link with all the allied departments, research organisations, NGOs and other agencies associated with agricultural development in the district. Thus research and extension units within the district such as Zonal Research Stations or sub stations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the line departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Sericulture, Agro industries etc would constitute members of ATMA.