Training needs in agriculture of 'Irulas' of Attappady

Abstract

The study on the training needs in agriculture of 'Irulas* of Attappady was carried out with the following objectives: 1. To identify the training needs in Agriculture of irulas. 2. To determine the level of Knowledge of ’Irulas on the cultivation of Important crops. 3* To assess the type, duration, season, venue and frequency of the trainings required as perceived by the Irulas. 4. To find out the association between the training needs and the socio-psychological characters of Irulas. Irulas form the numerically dominant tribe of 'Attappady' valley of F&lghat district, in Kerala State, A sample of 100 Irula farmers was selected from the four villages of Attappady using random and proportional allocation techniques. Personal interviews were conducted with the help of a well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The data so collected were analysed with the help of suitable statistical techniques. The salient findings of the study are as follows. Nearly half of the respondents (46 par cent) perceived only low level of training need. Twenty four per cent perceived a high need for training while 30 per cent fell in the medium group, who perceived a medium level of training need. Because of the high illiteracy and poor exposure to training programmes, they perceived low level of training need. tfith regard to the perception of training needs for the important crops, Ragi ranked first and it was followed by training needs in Jowar, Pulses, Maize, Chamai, Groundnut and Paddy respectively. With regard to the perception of training needs in respect to the major operations in general, plant protection was perceived as the area having most important training need. Other important areas of training needs in the descending order of preference were intercultural operations, manuring, seeds and sowing and land preparation.