An assessment of knowledge gain of rural youth about vocational mushroom production training programme

Agricultural Research Station, Sriganganagar (Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner) has taken up three vocational training programme of Mushroom production technology for building entrepreneurship skills in the rural farmers, women and youth under RKVY-RAFTAR Project on “Evaluation of high yielding strains and post harvest management of mushroom”. During the year 2018–19, total 122 trainees were trained on the basic concepts of cultivation of oyster mushroom cultivation. A structured interview schedule consisting of statements related to their socio economic profile was used. To evaluate knowledge gain, pre and post training knowledge scores of the respondents with respect to various mushroom cultivation practices were evaluated. Likewise, the suggestions from the trainees were discussed for bringing further improvement in the vocational training programme. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentages and ranking. Post evaluation scores of gain in overall knowledge about various practices indicate 63–100% improvement in their knowledge. The results showed that, prior to the training, the trainees were less aware with respect to their knowledge and understanding about the mushroom cultivation aspects. But after the training, there is significant increase in the knowledge level of trainees. All the trainees had positive change in the level of knowledge after the training. The result of this study clearly indicates that the good conduct of vocational/off campus training programme can provide needed information and guidance to the rural unemployed farm youth to start and flourish any agricultural enterprise.