MSc

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are the frontline institutions in agricultural technology transfer in the country, involved in conducting on farm trials (OFT), front line demonstrations
(FLD), trainings and advisory services at grass roots level, based on need assessment and definite action plans, in addition to special programs and intervention projects. A district being the
operational jurisdiction, a KVK provides several trainings to farmers, women, youth and organized groups to build up the human resource capacity aiming at enhancing agricultural
production, productivity, employment and income generation among the participants.
The present study entitled “Impact assessment of skill based trainings of Krishi Vigyan Kendra” was undertaken in Thrissur district which is the mandate area of KVK, Thrissur with the objectives to assess the post training application of skill based trainings in income and employment generation among the participants, to identify the determinants of application of the
skills gained and to analyze the constraints in utilization of training outputs.Sampling frame included participants from three types of trainings viz. mushroom production, value addition of fruits and vegetables and mechanized coconut climbing, which had the highest number of participants among the KVK trainings during the study period. Simple random sampling was done for sample selection from these selected three skill areas. Forty
trainees were selected from each training and thus the total sample comprised of 120 beneficiaries. Pre tested semi structured interview schedules were used for response collection.Personal interviews and focused group discussions were conducted to generate required primary data.

Majority (65.82%) of the trainees were middle to old aged and having high school-higher secondary education (72.49%). This is an indicator that those who were not able to pursue college education, turn to agriculture related occupations and by promoting opportunities for them, agri based enterprises can be developed and sustained. One third of the respondents
(30.01%) had an annual income between Rs.50,000-1 lakh and 45.83 per cent of trainees were engaged in farming as main source of income. An interesting pattern is that more percentage of people among all income groups except the highest income group, are engaged in agriculture as a major occupation. This reinforces the fact that agriculture, still is the backbone of our rural life.Among the highest income group, more people were engaged in salaried jobs. The largest proportion of trainees (46.6%) had less than 20 cents of land and out of them 66 per cent had less than 10 years of farming experience. This shows the utmost necessity for promoting skill based trainings for small holder farmers. Nearly half (46.6%) had their own house and 47.5 per cent were coming from nuclear families. Only those who own a house and a little land associated with it, will have the freedom to take up a micro enterprise like mushroom production or value addition of fruits and vegetables and then go on to expand it in that premises. Therefore having own premises is important in the case of trainees in achieving high skill application. Regarding post training skill application, 65 per cent respondents had partial-good level of skill application and only 35 per cent fell under low/ no skill application. Variables like
contact with extension agency, social participation, scientific orientation, self-confidence, risk orientation, achievement motivation, and economic motivation were found to be important at medium level to high level of skill application while contact with extension agency ,social participation, self-confidence, achievement motivation, and economic motivation were
significant in the case of low to medium level of skill application. It might be good to consider incorporation of these aspects to as part of primary skill trainings by way of sessions and exercises which will accelerate the process of transition of respondents from medium level to high level of skill application.
Regarding post training judgement 54.17 per cent trainees showed good level of judgement and 20.83 per cent were not very impressed by the trainings as they viewed demerits above the merits. Five variables were found to be important in the case of post training judgment.They were farming experience, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency, social participation and achievement motivation. An improvement in these factors should lead to better judgement. There were several constraints faced by respondents of each category for application of skills gained, some of the commonly felt constraints were marketing problems, lack of financial assistance and high cost of raw materials.

KVK , Thrissur fared reasonably well in imparting of skill trainings and post training skill application. Post training skill application was acting as an income source and employment
opportunity for majority of trainees. However, about one third of the trainees did not use the newly acquired skills. Efforts to enhance skill application should be taken in future designing
and delivery of trainings.