Training need analysis of agricultural officers (AOs) of department of agriculture development and farmers welfare Kerala

Abstract

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, 86 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’.