Training needs of agricultural extension officers about watershed management

The study assessed the training needs of agricultural extension officers about watershed management in district Mandi of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2011. A random sample of 70 respondents (agricultural extension officers) representing all blocks of the district was selected. The data were collected through a schedule by adopting perception by self method. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage and chi square test. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents belonged to middle and old age group, possessed educational qualification of postgraduate/graduate in agriculture and having less service experience. The study indicated that majority of agricultural extension officers perceived medium to high training needs in the areas of monitoring and evaluation of watershed projects (90%), agro-ecosystem analysis & participatory rural appraisal technique (84.28%), engineering measures for arable & non-arable land systems (84.28%), soil survey & land capability classification (81.43%), agro forestry measures for arable & non arable lands (78.57%) and efficient irrigation technology (65.71%). Livestock management, horticulture plantation and management techniques were also equally important areas of watershed development, where majority (67.14%) of the respondents expressed medium to high training needs. In the areas of soil management, majority of the respondents felt low to medium training needs. Overall, the majority of agricultural extension officers perceived moderate extent of training needs. Chi square analysis between selected independent variables such as age and educational qualification did not show any significant relationship while service experience showed significant association with overall extent of training needs. Conclusively, the study emphasises an urgent need to update the knowledge and skill of agricultural extension functionaries by organizing need based skill oriented training programmes for effective transfer of technology to their clients for harnessing the full potential of the watershed management programmes.