Training Needs Assessment of Farmers from Indore District of Madhya Pradesh State

Abstract: The study was conducted to assess the training needs of farmers from Indore district of Madhya Pradesh State by using in depth interview method. Three tahsils viz. Indore, Sanwer and Hatod were selected purposively from which 10 villages were selected randomly from selected tahsils. 10 farmers were randomly selected for collecting data thus sample size was 100. A structured interview schedule was prepared with 20 training aspects with three levels of priority such as ‘Most relevant’, ‘Relevant’ and ‘Least relevant’.

It was revealed the farmers have average age 31.66, average land holding 4.3 Ha, average farming experience 11.78 years, and educational level was up to 10 standards. Out of 20 training aspects, majority of the farmers (55.00 %) have shown interest in training of ‘Integrated Pest and Disease Management’ followed by ‘Integrated Nutrient Management’ by 48.00 percent farmers. About 45.00 percent farmers thought that training of ‘Organic Farming Technology’ be provided to them whereas 43.00 percent farmers need training of ‘Crop Production Management for Soybean, Potato, Wheat etc’. Training of ‘Irrigation Management’ was felt important by 39.00 percent farmers whereas 36.00 percent farmers need training of ‘Livestock Management’. For four training aspects viz. ‘Weed Management’, ‘Post-harvest handling’, ‘Mushroom Production’ and ‘Vermi-compost Production’, 27.00 percent farmers have given priority.

Introduction
Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is the method of determining if a training need exists and, if it does, what training is required to fill the gap. TNA seeks to identify accurately the levels of the present situation in the target surveys, interview, observation, secondary data and/or workshop. The gap between the present status and desired status may indicate problems that in turn can be translated into a training need. Training can reduce, if not eliminate, the gap, by equipping the participants with knowledge and skills and by encouraging them to build and enhance their capabilities. The data on the present status are vital to the evaluation or impact survey in the latter part of the training cycle.
The present research was conducted for knowing the training needs of the farmers from Indore district of Madhya Pradesh state so that training programs may be planned effectively. The results obtained after this study shall also be directly useful to all those institutes (Agril Universities/Colleges/ KVKs/Agri. or Hort Dept, NGOs etc.) who conducts training programs for transfer of technologies in agriculture.

Review of Literature

Dawood Yousuf and et.al. (2023) The most prioritized areas of information needs expressed by the apple growers were disease management, training/pruning, govt. schemes and subsidies, innovative techniques (HDP) and pest management. The overall information needs behaviour of apple growers was medium (45.00%) with mean information needs of 62.48. Explanatory variables land holding, source of information and scientific orientation have a positive and significant relationship with the information needs of apple growers. A pertinent information dissemination strategy can be developed on the basis of their information needs behaviour. The study will act as an eye-opener for policy makers to formulate relevant policies and design programmes to enhance the production and productivity of apple.

P. S. Gorfad and et.al. (2022) The result illuminated that majority of respondents did not have the proper know-how about groundnut production technology, especially plant protection measures, recommended doses of chemical fertilizers, use of bio agents – trichoderma and beuvaria, etc. Therefore, it is very important to strengthen the training programmes for increasing the adoption of groundnut production technology by assessing the training needs of farmers about groundnut production technology.

Govinda Bihare and et.al.(2022) Majority (76.67%) of respondents reported that KVK is far away from villages/remote areas because Barwani and Khargone both districts have one KVK in the district headquarter. Farmers require continuous education to stay aware of fast-paced developments in agriculture for utilizing technologies and new tools to upgrade operations and increase their income.

Research Methodology

Locale of the study: Three Tahsils from Indore district of Madhya Pradesh State viz. Indore, Sanwer and Hatod were selected for the proposed research study. Ten villages were selected purposively as a convenience of researcher.

Sample size: Ten villages were selected randomly from selected tahsils of Indore district similarly 10 farmers were selected randomly from each village. Thus, total sample size of respondents was 100. The details about selected villages from the respective tahsils were given in Table: 1

Data Collection: A structured interview schedule was prepared with 20 training aspects with three levels of priority such as ‘Most relevant’, ‘Relevant’ and ‘Least relevant’, for the purpose of data collection regarding training needs assessment. It was pre - tested with respondents from non-sample area. The data were collected from selected area by personal interactions with the respondents. Collected data was analysed with frequency and percentage.

Results
The collected data were analysed by calculating frequency and percentages. The findings of the present research study were described as under.

1.Characteristics of the respondents
1.1 Age: it was observed that minimum age of the respondent was 17 and maximum age was 50. The average age of the respondents was found 31.67. this result shows that majority of the respondents were young, and this age group is more likely to respond positively for the training programs that would be organized in future.

1. Education: Table 2 showed that most of the respondents (35.00 percent) have educated up to 10^th standard followed by 25.00 percent farmers were educated up to 12^th standard. the educational level of about 18.00 percent respondents was ‘Diploma/Graduation’ whereas as 12.00 percent farmers were highest educational level i.e. PG. lowest educational level of below 10^th standard was observed at 10.00 percent respondents.
2. Farming experience: as regards the farming experience, minimum experience was found 3 years whereas maximum experience was 35 years. The average farming experience was found 11.78 years.
3. Land holding: the minimum land holding was seen 2 Ha while maximum land holding was observed 10 Ha. The average land holding was found 4.37 Ha.

2.Training Needs Assessment: the responses regarding training needs were collected on three-point continuum basis viz. ‘Most relevant’, ‘Relevant’ and ‘Least relevant’. the responses given by the respondents in first column i.e. ‘most relevant’ was considered their positive response for the concerned training aspect as their choice for training they wanted to attend. The findings regarding training needs shown by the respondents were described in Table:3.

It was seen fromTable:3 that, out of 20 training needs aspects, majority of the farmers (55.00 %) have shown interest in training of ‘Integrated Pest and Disease Management’ followed by ‘Integrated Nutrient Management’ by 48.00 percent farmers. These two training aspects were ranked first and second respectively. About 45.00 percent farmers thought that training of ‘Organic Farming Technology’ (ranked third) be provided to them whereas 43.00 percent farmers need training of ‘Crop Production Management for Soybean, Potato, Wheat etc’ and hence ranked fourth. Training of ‘Irrigation Management’ was felt important by 39.00 percent farmers and thus occupied fifth rank whereas 36.00 percent farmers need training of ‘Livestock Management’ which stands on sixth rank. On seventh rank, four training aspects viz. ‘Weed Management’, ‘Post-harvest handling’, ‘Mushroom Production’ and ‘Vermi-compost Production’, were received same preferences by the 27.00 percent farmers.
Rest of the other training areas has received less preferences and they may not be so important to consider for training as most of the respondents are not interested to receive training on those aspects.

Conclusion
It can be concluded from the present study that training on ‘Integrated Pest and Disease Management’, ‘Integrated Nutrient Management’, ‘Organic Farming Technology’, ‘Crop Production Management for Soybean, Potato, Wheat etc’ and ‘Irrigation Management’ be chosen as the topics for training of the farmers from Indore district of Madhya Pradesh.

References:
Dawood Yousuf; Lyaqet Ali; M A Dar; Shijaatt Hussain Bhat; Khalid Rasool Wani; Faheem Jeelani Wani; Tanveer Ahmad Wani 2023. Assessment of Information Needs of Apple Growers in District Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir (Ut) , India. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International. 45-9. DOI: 10.9734/jeai/2023/v45i92190.

P. S. Gorfad, R. B. Thanki and K. P. Gorfad 2022 Training Needs of Farmers on Groundnut Production Technology. Guj. J. Ext. Edu. Special Issue.  https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2022.si.0031

Govinda Bihare; V K Swarnkar; S K Badodiya. 2022. Efficacy of Trainings Programme among the Tribal Farmers Provided by Krishi Vigyan Kendra's of West Nimar Region Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Krishi Vigyan. 11-1. DOI: 10.5958/2349-4433.2022.00119.2


Suhas Mane
Assistant Professor
Shri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture
SVVV.Indore.MP. India