Training Needs and Constraints of Extension Officers in Transfer of Agriculture Technology

The present investigation was conducted with 42 extension officers (12 Agriculture Extension Officers and 30 Junior Agriculture Extension Officers) to find out their personal characteristics, training needs and constraints in carrying out the assigned field extension work of transfer of agriculture technology. Study reveals that majority of the extension officers were graduates in agriculture sciences besides more than 1/4^th of them were possessing post graduate degrees in agriculture. It has also been found that majority of them were moderately experienced among both the categories i.e. AEOs and JAEOs. An equal proportion of both the categories of respondents were highly experienced and least experienced. With respect to training needs, high-tech floriculture cultivation, integrated pest management, water management, organic farming, integrated nutrient management, post harvest technology of the agricultural crops, protected cultivation, integrated farming systems, natural resource management and crop husbandry were the major areas in which the extension officers reported the need for training. Besides, poor marketing facilities in the area, difficult terrain and poor connectivity in hilly areas, unorganized farming community, lack of interest in farming due to uneconomic holdings and poor financial condition of the farmers were the prime constraints encountered by the agriculture extension officers for carrying extension activities effectively.