Effectiveness of certificate course on integrated nutrient management for fertilizer dealers

Abstract

The fertilizer dealers are the prime source of agricultural information and suppliers of quality inputs to the farming community. However, majority of the fertilizer dealers do not have a formal degree or adequate knowledge on scientific practices in agriculture. Realizing the importance of equipping fertilizer dealers and enhancing their professional competency of fertilizer dealers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare issued an amendment called Fertilizer Control Order in 1985. It is mandatory for all the fertilizer dealers to undergo a 15-day certificate course to obtain and renew their license for fertilizer dealership. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) introduced online certificate course on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in 2020 for fifteen batches and thereafter conducted nine offline batches till 2023. In this background, a study on “Effectiveness of certificate course on integrated nutrient management for fertilizer dealers” was carried out to assess the effectiveness of online and offline certificate course on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) as perceived by fertilizer dealers, relationship of profile characteristics of fertilizer dealers with their perceived effectiveness towards online and offline certificate course on INM, identify constraints faced by fertilizer dealers in participating online and offline certificate course and formulate strategies to improve the certificate course for empowering fertilizer dealers. The seven districts of Kerala, viz. Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Alappuzha and Kollam were selected purposively for the study by considering the maximum number of fertilizer dealers participated in the certificate course. A representative sample of 150 respondents each from online and offline certificate courses was selected by adopting proportionate random sampling technique, thus making the total sample size of 300 respondents. The profile of online and offline trained fertilizer dealers revealed that, 46.00 per cent of online trained dealers were in the middle age group, while 36.00 per cent of offline trained dealers were in the young age group. It was found that for both categories of dealers, the majority were males, educated up to the graduation level, and had good computer proficiency. Most of the dealers were retailers, and more than half had business experience of less than five years. It was revealed that 35.33 per cent of online trained dealers had an annual income between Rs.50,001 and Rs.1,00,000, whereas 28.66 per cent offline trained dealers earned above Rs.2,00,000 annually. Among online trained dealers, 30.00 per cent dealt with any two types of inputs, while more than one-fifth of offline trained dealers (27.33%) dealt with any two and three types of inputs each. The data also showed that the government agencies were the major source of motivation for more than half of both the categories of dealers. It was revealed that the majority of both categories of dealers had a medium level of extension contact, mass media participation and information-seeking behaviour. Both categories of online as well as offline trained fertilizer dealers exhibited a medium level of management orientation, decision-making ability, economic motivation, risk-taking ability and level of aspiration. The perceived effectiveness of the certificate course using the Kirkpatrick's four-level hierarchical model revealed that, the ‘reaction’ level of the evaluation of the certificate course composed of the components viz; quality, course content, teaching methods, duration and time of training. It showed that the mean score of 4.36 secured by offline trained fertilizer dealers was higher compared to the mean score 3.78 gained by online trained fertilizer dealers towards the reaction level under the evaluation of the certificate course on INM. At the ‘learning’ level evaluation of the certificate course constituted the components viz; utility, coverage, knowledge gained and skill development. It clearly showed that the mean score secured under learning level of the offline trained fertilizer dealers 4.24 was higher in comparison to online trained fertilizer dealers with mean score of 3.83. The ‘behaviour’ level of the evaluation of the certificate course comprised the change in job performance, confidence level and management skills among the fertilizer dealers after completing the certificate course. It showed that the mean score 4.21 obtained by offline trained fertilizer dealers was higher compared to the mean score 3.76 secured by online trained fertilizer dealers. Finally, the ‘result’ level of the evaluation consisted of role of certificate course in moulding the respondents viz; professional competency, management of fertilizer dealership, transfer of technology and overall satisfaction. It showed that the mean score 4.25 obtained by offline trained fertilizer dealers was higher compared to the mean score 3.86 received by online trained fertilizer dealers related to the ‘results level of them after attending the certificate course. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rsp) analysis revealed that the variables viz; age, educational status, business experience, mass media participation, types of input marketed, computer proficiency, management orientation, information seeking behaviour, economic motivation, risk taking ability and level of aspiration were found to be positively correlated with perception towards the effectiveness of certificate course either 1% or 5% level of significance. The major constraints faced by online trained fertilizer dealers were: receipt of study materials after completion of online sessions, some lectures were too fast, internet connectivity issues and lack of communication and low interaction with other participants. Whereas, the major constraints faced by offline trained fertilizer dealers were: classroom session was too long to concentrate, no adequate follow-up and difficult to maintain work life balance during the course period. The specific strategies were developed to improve the effectiveness of the certificate course on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). Based on the Kirkpatrick's level of evaluation model, strategies were framed viz. Reaction level: group discussion, method demonstration and group presentation may be organized. Learning level: enhancement of knowledge, upgradation of skills and favourable attitude towards the job. Behaviour level: Understanding market dynamics, disseminating technology and staying updated with latest technologies. Results level: sessions on conducting market research, encouraging to share knowledge with colleagues and farmers, networking with suppliers and manufacturers, evaluating new technologies and follow up may be adopted