TRAINING NEEDS
Training Needs Assessment of the farmers and rural youths in Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya
was conducted by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Jaintia Hills in collaboration with the State
Department of Agriculture, Meghalaya.
Four villages representing the different Agro –Ecological Situations under the five Blocks in
the district were identified and based on production potential of the different farming systems
were drawn up for inclusion in the present study. On consultation with the extension functionaries
of the state agricultural departments, local leaders etc. a list of farmers representing different
categories were prepared for each village. From the individual list of farmers from selected
village, five farmer respondents were randomly selected which made twenty farmers for the district.
Data collection from randomly selected respondents was made using retested ‘Structured Schedule’
through personal interview method. For this purpose, an interview schedule was constructed for
data collection from respondents in the light of the objectives of the study. The selected
respondents were personally interviewed and their responses were recorded in the schedule. Utmost
care was taken to make the respondents understand about the objectives of the study and clarified
their doubts.
A list of 11 major components/thematic areas was prepared Viz., Crop production, Plant protection,
Soil Health and fertility management, Afro-forestry, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries,
On farm production of Inputs, Home Science/Women empowerment, Agri engineering, Capacity Building
and Group Dynamics and Vocational Training for Rural Youth. Under each major component, specific
and relevant training needs items were collected through review of literature, discussion with
state extension functionaries, progressing farmers etc and incorporated in the interview schedule
based on. The schedules were administered to the indented respondents for data collection. In this
regard, the farmers were requested to give a tick (√) in one of the three response categories
(Viz. Very important, Important and Not Important) provided against the identified specific items
under each major component based on their perceived needs for providing training to them for
further improvement in their farming system.
The farmer’s responses were collected in 3- point continuum scale such as Very Important (VI),
Important (I) and Not Important (NI) by assigning scores 3,2 and 1 respectively.
The results were calculated as weighted score for each of the thrust area identified for the
training:-
Weighted Score (WS) = (No. of VI x 3) + ( No. of I x 2) + (No. of Ni x 1)
Total No. of VI + I + NI
Weighted Scores in the range of 2-3 were ranked within each discipline and the first five rankings
were identified as the training needs of the farmers of the district.
Table 1: Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Crop Production
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Crop Production |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Weed Management |
|
|
|
|
|
Resource Conservation Technologies |
6 |
12 |
2 |
2.2 |
3 |
Cropping Systems |
7 |
10 |
3 |
2.2 |
3 |
Crop Diversification |
12 |
4 |
4 |
2.4 |
1 |
Integrated Farming |
8 |
11 |
1 |
2.35 |
2 |
Water Management |
6 |
9 |
5 |
2.05 |
6 |
Seed Production |
6 |
5 |
9 |
1.8 |
7 |
Nursery Management |
8 |
6 |
6 |
2.1 |
4 |
Integrated Crop Management |
7 |
12 |
1 |
2.3 |
2 |
Fodder Production |
4 |
4 |
12 |
1.6 |
8 |
Production of Organic Inputs |
7 |
9 |
4 |
2.15 |
4 |
Table: 2 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Plant Protection
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Plant Protection |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Integrated Pest Management |
18 |
2 |
0 |
2.9 |
1 |
Integrated Disease Management |
17 |
3 |
0 |
2.85 |
2 |
Bio-control of pest and diseases |
7 |
13 |
0 |
2.35 |
3 |
Production of biocontrol agents and biopesticides |
8 |
11 |
1 |
2.35 |
3 |
Table: 3 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Soil Health and Fertility Management
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Soil Health and Fertility Management |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Soil Fertility Management |
12 |
8 |
0 |
2.6 |
1 |
Soil and Water Conservation |
11 |
7 |
2 |
2.45 |
2 |
Integrated Nutrient Management |
9 |
10 |
1 |
2.4 |
2 |
Production and use of organic inputs |
5 |
12 |
3 |
2.1 |
3 |
Management of problematic soils |
5 |
11 |
4 |
2.05 |
4 |
Micro nutrient deficiency in crops |
5 |
9 |
6 |
1.95 |
6 |
Nutrient use efficiency |
5 |
8 |
7 |
1.9 |
5 |
Soil and water testing |
5 |
9 |
6 |
1.95 |
6 |
Table: 4 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Horticulture
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Horticulture |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Vegetables Crops |
|
|
|
|
|
Production of Low Volume and High Value Crops |
6 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
Off-season vegetables |
11 |
8 |
1 |
2.5 |
1 |
Nursery Raising |
10 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
1 |
Exotic vegetables like Broccoli |
6 |
12 |
2 |
2.2 |
3 |
Export potential vegetables |
6 |
5 |
9 |
1.85 |
5 |
Grading and standardization |
2 |
9 |
9 |
1.65 |
6 |
Protective cultivation(Ex. Green House, shade net) |
10 |
9 |
1 |
2.45 |
2 |
Fruits |
|
|
|
|
|
Training and Pruning |
5 |
5 |
10 |
1.75 |
5 |
Layout and management of orchards |
6 |
6 |
8 |
1.9 |
2 |
Cultivation of fruits |
7 |
3 |
10 |
1.85 |
4 |
Management of young plants/orchards |
4 |
8 |
8 |
1.8 |
3 |
Rejuvenation of old orchards |
8 |
7 |
5 |
2.15 |
1 |
Export potential fruits |
3 |
7 |
10 |
1.65 |
6 |
Micro irrigation systems of orchards |
4 |
5 |
11 |
1.65 |
6 |
Plant Propagation Techniques |
5 |
3 |
12 |
1.65 |
6 |
Ornamental Plants |
|
|
|
|
|
Nursery management |
5 |
8 |
7 |
1.9 |
1 |
Management of potted plants |
2 |
7 |
11 |
1.55 |
3 |
Export potential of Ornamental Plants |
5 |
3 |
12 |
1.65 |
2 |
Propagation Techniques of Ornamental Plants |
4 |
2 |
14 |
1.5 |
3 |
Plantation Crops |
|
|
|
|
|
Production and Management Technology |
5 |
4 |
11 |
1.7 |
1 |
Processing and Value Addition |
4 |
4 |
12 |
1.6 |
2 |
Tuber Crops |
|
|
|
|
|
Production and Management Technology |
4 |
10 |
6 |
1.9 |
1 |
Processing and Value Addition |
4 |
9 |
7 |
1.85 |
2 |
Spices |
|
|
|
|
|
Production and Management Technology |
7 |
9 |
4 |
2.15 |
1 |
Processing and Value Addition |
5 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants |
|
|
|
|
|
Nursery Management |
2 |
1 |
17 |
1.25 |
2 |
Production and Management Technology |
3 |
1 |
16 |
1.35 |
1 |
Post Harvest Technology and Value Addition |
2 |
1 |
17 |
1.25 |
2 |
Table: 5 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Livestock Production and Management
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Livestock production and management |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Dairy Management |
7 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
Poultry Management |
7 |
8 |
5 |
2.1 |
2 |
Piggery Management |
9 |
3 |
8 |
2.05 |
3 |
Rabbit Management |
3 |
4 |
13 |
1.5 |
5 |
Disease Management |
16 |
4 |
0 |
1.8 |
1 |
Feed Management |
7 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
Production of quality animal products |
1 |
5 |
14 |
1.35 |
6 |
Table: 6 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Home Science/Women Empowerment
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Home Science/Women Empowerment |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Household food security by kitchen gardening and nutrition |
5 |
11 |
4 |
2.05 |
1 |
Gardening |
2 |
5 |
13 |
1.45 |
6 |
Design and development of low/minimum cost diet |
2 |
10 |
8 |
1.7 |
4 |
Designing and development for nutrient efficiency diet |
2 |
8 |
10 |
1.6 |
5 |
Minimization of nutrient loss in processing |
2 |
11 |
7 |
1.75 |
3 |
Gender mainstreaming through SHGs |
2 |
11 |
7 |
1.75 |
3 |
Storage loss minimization techniques |
3 |
8 |
9 |
1.7 |
4 |
Value Addition |
2 |
8 |
10 |
1.6 |
5 |
Location specific drudgery reduction technologies |
2 |
4 |
14 |
1.4 |
8 |
Income generation activities for empowerment of rural women |
5 |
5 |
10 |
1.75 |
4 |
Rural Crafts |
2 |
6 |
12 |
1.5 |
7 |
Women and Child Care |
5 |
8 |
7 |
1.9 |
2 |
Table: 7 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Agril. Engineering
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Agril. Engineering |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Installation and maintenance of micro irrigation systems |
8 |
11 |
1 |
2.35 |
1 |
Use of plastics in farming practices |
3 |
7 |
10 |
1.65 |
4 |
Production of small tools and implements |
5 |
7 |
8 |
1.85 |
2 |
Repair and maintenance of farm machinery and implements |
3 |
10 |
7 |
1.8 |
3 |
Small scale processing and value addition |
2 |
13 |
5 |
1.85 |
2 |
Post Harvest Technology |
3 |
10 |
7 |
1.8 |
3 |
Table: 8 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Fisheries.
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Fisheries |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Integrated Fish Farming |
6 |
10 |
4 |
2.1 |
1 |
Crab breeding and hatchery management |
3 |
7 |
10 |
1.65 |
4 |
Crab fry and fingerling rearing |
0 |
2 |
18 |
1.15 |
5 |
Composite Fish Culture |
1 |
4 |
15 |
1.3 |
3 |
Hatchery management and culture of fresh water prawn |
0 |
2 |
18 |
1.1 |
6 |
Breeding and culture of ornamental fishes |
4 |
3 |
13 |
1.55 |
2 |
Portable plastic crap hatchery |
1 |
1 |
18 |
1.15 |
5 |
Pen culture of fish and prawn |
0 |
1 |
19 |
1.05 |
7 |
Shrimp farming |
1 |
1 |
18 |
1.15 |
5 |
Edible oyster farming |
0 |
2 |
18 |
1.1 |
6 |
Pearl culture |
0 |
1 |
19 |
1.05 |
7 |
Fish processing and value addition |
1 |
3 |
16 |
1.25 |
4 |
Table: 9 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Production of inputs at site
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Production of inputs at site |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Seed production |
5 |
4 |
11 |
1.7 |
6 |
Planting material production |
4 |
11 |
5 |
1.95 |
5 |
Bio-agents production |
3 |
10 |
7 |
1.8 |
7 |
Bio-pesticides production |
8 |
11 |
1 |
2.35 |
2 |
Bio-fertilizer production |
11 |
8 |
1 |
2.5 |
1 |
Vermi-compost production |
5 |
15 |
0 |
2.25 |
3 |
Organic manures production |
4 |
12 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Production of fry and fingerlings |
2 |
2 |
16 |
1.3 |
11 |
Production of bee-colonies and wax sheets |
1 |
3 |
16 |
1.25 |
12 |
Small tools and implements |
2 |
8 |
10 |
1.6 |
8 |
Production of livestock feed and fodder |
3 |
2 |
15 |
1.4 |
10 |
Production of fish feed |
2 |
5 |
13 |
1.45 |
9 |
Table: 10 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Agro-forestry
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Agro-forestry |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Production technologies |
2 |
2 |
16 |
1.3 |
2 |
Nursery management |
3 |
1 |
16 |
1.35 |
1 |
Integrated Farming Systems |
3 |
1 |
16 |
1.35 |
1 |
Other(Pl.specify) |
|
|
|
|
|
Table: 11 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya in the discipline of Capacity building and group dynamics
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Capacity building and group dynamics |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Leadership development |
10 |
7 |
3 |
2.35 |
1 |
Group dynamics |
2 |
4 |
14 |
1.4 |
4 |
Formation and management of SHGs |
9 |
9 |
2 |
2.35 |
1 |
Mobilization of social capital |
1 |
7 |
12 |
1.45 |
3 |
Enterpreneurial development of farmers/youth |
7 |
8 |
5 |
2.1 |
2 |
WTO and IRP issues |
2 |
3 |
15 |
1.35 |
5 |
Table: 12 Weighted Score (1-3 Scale) and Rank of the training needs of the farmers of Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya for Rural Youth
Thematic area |
Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya (n = 20) |
Rural Youth |
VI |
I |
NI |
WS |
Rank |
Mushroom Production |
6 |
10 |
4 |
2.1 |
3 |
Bee-keeping |
2 |
8 |
10 |
1.6 |
8 |
Integrated Farming |
8 |
11 |
1 |
2.35 |
2 |
Production of organic inputs |
5 |
11 |
4 |
2.05 |
3 |
Planting material production |
3 |
12 |
5 |
1.9 |
4 |
Vermiculture |
10 |
9 |
1 |
2.45 |
1 |
Sericulture |
3 |
11 |
6 |
1.85 |
5 |
Protected cultivation of vegetables crops |
6 |
10 |
4 |
2.1 |
3 |
Commercial fruit production |
5 |
2 |
13 |
1.6 |
8 |
Repair and maintenance of farm machinery and implements |
4 |
11 |
5 |
1.95 |
4 |
Nursery management of horticultural crops |
3 |
13 |
4 |
1.95 |
3 |
Training and pruning of orchards |
2 |
9 |
9 |
1.65 |
7 |
Value addition |
4 |
11 |
5 |
1.95 |
4 |
Production of quality animal products |
1 |
5 |
14 |
1.35 |
10 |
Dairying |
4 |
3 |
13 |
1.55 |
9 |
Sheep and goat rearing |
7 |
5 |
12 |
1.79 |
6 |
Quail farming |
1 |
5 |
14 |
1.35 |
10 |
Piggery |
3 |
12 |
5 |
1.9 |
4 |