Abstract:
The objectives of the study were to identify the training needs of the
Dairy Farm Instructors (DFls) of Dairy Development Department of Kerala
and find out the determinants of their training needs. The data were collected
through questionnaires to which 75 DFls responded.
Information technology was the most preferred major subject matter
domain for training followed by milk and milk products, dairy cattle
production and management, dairy extension, professional management and
I
fodder production and management.
Among the socio-personal characteristics, the training exposure and
role perception of the respondents had significant relationship with the
training need. Both the role perception and training need of most of the
respondents were medium only.
For all the domains, institutional type of training as well as trainers
from outside the parent organization but within the state were preferred the
most. Demonstration was the most preferred method of training for most of
the domains. The most preferred periodicity for the trainings of one to seven
days duration was six months, those of eight to fourteen days was one year
and those of fifteen to thirty days and more than a month was more than a
year. The duration preferred the most for short-term trainings was one to
seven days and that for long-term trainings was fifteen days to one month.
Further, an equal percentage of theory and practical training sessions
was preferred for all the domains except milk and milk products and
information technology for which more practical sessions were preferred.
The training institutes within Kerala were the most preferred venue tor
training in all the major domains except milk and milk products in which
selected premier institutes outside Kerala were preferred the most.
All the training programmes for DFIs organised by the parent
organization from 1997 onwards were rated as either relevant or somewhat
relevant by the respondents.
