Role Performance of Subject Matter Specialists in Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Northern India

Role performance of Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs) of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) was imperative to study for evaluating the overall output of KVKs. Study was conducted in twenty KVKs of Northern India. A scale was constructed using Likert technique to study the role performance. Findings revealed that most of the respondents were male (63.91%), in middle category of age (49.48%), from Home Science discipline (18.56%), residing between 1 to 53 km distance (74.22%). life members of professional societies (81.44%), having doctorate education (63.92%), married (95.88%), having post graduate (58.06%) and serving spouse (76.34), rural background (57.73%), having nuclear families (51.55%), family occupation service (69.07%) and service experience of 1–11 years (55%). Assessment of the training needs of the farmers of the district, finding out location specific problems, demonstrating improved technologies of agriculture on the farmers’ fields, drawing up of a suitable plan of work, keeping oneself professionally up to date, identifying the key communicators, actively involving himself in evaluation of programme, developing and maintaining good relations with superiors, subordinates and associates, providing diagnostic services, attending visiting farmers and other visitors and dealing politely with them and delivering invited lectures were the top ranked roles performed by SMSs in different role segments respectively. Overall role performance was high as 51.55 percent respondents fallen under this category followed by medium (44.33%) and low role performance category (4.12%). In comparison of different role segments, overall mean score of the role segment office work and reporting was highest (4.65) followed by management (4.46) and Subject matter authority (4.41). In core activities of FLDs and OFTs role performance was least and core activity training was in the middle of the different role segments.