MSc

The study entitled “Training need analysis of Agricultural Officers (AOs) of
Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare Kerala” was
designed to assess the training need of agricultural officers. Attitude of the
respondents towards training, their profile characteristics, constraints faced by
them while implementing their duties were also studied The study was conducted
in two zones of Kerala viz., Kannur from North Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
from South Kerala. Forty five Agricultural Officers were selected from both
Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts. Ex-post facto research design was
used for the study. Ten independent variables were selected through judges
rating. Training need analysis of agricultural officers and attitude of AOs towards
training were the dependent variables of the study.
On analysis of data, it was found that majority (46.67%) of AOs were
middle aged (3545), 47.78 per cent of them were post graduates and 45.56 percent
had 10-20 years of job experience.Majority of the respondents (71.11%) had
medium exposure to technical or professional literature, mass media contact
(77.78%), job satisfaction (78.89%),organisational
commitment(61.11%),scientific orientation (72.22%) and satisfaction with the
facilities at the training centre(52.22%). The study revealed that 38.89 per cent of
the respondents had undergone less than ten trainings.
Training need analysis of AOs were studied in two dimensions mainly
training need in agricultural practices and training need in extension. It was
reported that majority (60%) of the respondents belongedto medium training need
category in agricultural practices. More than half(58.89%) of the respondents
belonged to medium training need category in extension and 62.22 per cent of
them belonged to medium training need category in both agricultural practices
and extension in the two selected districts. From the results of the training needs
of AOs in agricultural practices and extension, it was evident that ‘identification
of pests and their control in important crops’, ‘integrated pest control’ and
‘identification of diseases and their control in important crops’ were given first,
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second and third rank respectively. ‘how to motivate and encourage farmers to
adopt recommended practices’ and ‘production of recommendations of major
crops and their implications’ were assigned fourth rank and fifth rank
respectively.
The correlation analysis revealed that out of ten independent variables job
satisfaction, scientific orientation and facilities at the training centre were
positively and significantly correlated with the training need of AOs in
agricultural practices. Scientific orientation and facilities at the training centre
were positively and significantly correlated with the training need of AOs in
extension whereas job satisfaction, scientific orientation and facilities at the
training centre were positively and significantly correlated with the training need
of AOs in agricultural practices and extension.
Majority (68.89%) of the respondents had neutral attitude towards
training. The correlation analysis revealed that mass media contact and scientific
orientation were positively and significantly correlated with the attitude of AOs
towards training.
The major constraints identified were the lack of time for extension activities.
Suggestive measures recommended were introduction of Agricultural Knowledge
Centres (AKCs), proper need based training to the AOs, providing incentives and
rewards for better performance and also increasing promotional opportunities.
To conclude, It was reported that majority of the respondents
belonged to medium training need category in agricultural practices and
extension. Even though majority of the agricultural officers had a neutral attitude
towards training, they expressed their requirement of training in the areas
‘Identification of pests and their control in important crops’, ‘integrated pest
control’ and ‘identification of diseases and their control in important crops’.