1. Research Article
Perceived Training Needs of Dair y Farmers Regarding
erceived Training Farmers Regar
egarding
Farming Practices Relation
Improved Dair y Farming Practices and its Relation with
Traits Region
their Socio -economic Traits in Bundelkhand Region
B. P. S. Rajput1, N.C. Sahu2, Kamala Kant 3 and Ram Kumar4
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001 (Haryana)
The study was conducted in Bundelkhand region in 2010. Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh
and Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh were selected purposively. 160 respondents were
included for investigation. The data was collected by personal interview schedule and collected
data was scored, tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. It was found that marginal
farmers shown maximum perceived training needs in fodder production (77.23%) followed by
Small farmers reporting to have highest perceived training in management (76.17%), semi-
medium farmers in the area of fodder production (73.10%), however Medium farmers had shown
maximum perceived training needs in the area of management (71.68%), Large farmers had
maximum perceived training needs in the area of health-care (78.33%). In case of all categories,
farmers had maximum perceived training needs in healthcare followed by fodder production,
management, feeding and breeding, respectively. Correlation test showed that social participation,
extension contact, mass media exposure and knowledge of respondent were negatively significant
with perceived training needs at 5% level of significance in relation to improved dairy farming
practices. The results of the study will help the Extension agencies to develop suitable training
programmes and strategies for the dairy farmers, livestock development department in planning
the development programmes for livestock keepers in the area of Bundelkhand.
Keywords: Dairy farmers, improved dairy farming and perceived training needs
INTRODUCTION or wheat in term of values of output, milk is
now the single largest agricultural commodity
I n the present scenario, characterized by
increasing population pressure on land, in India (Bhasin, 2008). Bovine and small
fragmentation of land holding by the application ruminants rearing are an integral part of
of succession laws, and higher degree of risk agrigarian economy of Bundelkhand and
and uncertainty in crop production, the role of contribute significantly to the livelihood of farmers
animal husbandry and dairying becomes more especially women headed, landless and small
vital in supplementing the family income and farmers. Crop cultivation and animal rearing
generating gainful employment to the weaker alone constitutes more than 90% of the overall
section of society, particularly to small, marginal livelihood. Animal Husbandry and dairying play
farmers and landless agriculture labours. By far, a major role in farmer economy here but the
the most significant aspect of this sector is the yielding capacity of animals is very poor due to
role played by it in improving the economic lot poor breeding, feeding and management. The
of million of rural families, as it provides total population of livestock and poultry is 5.85
insurance against crop failure, besides generating million. Cattle population is double of goat or
a regular source of income and employment. buffalo population but cross bred cattle account
According to the estimates of the central for only 0.5 per cent against the National average
statistical organization, the value of output from of about 15 per cent non-descript indigenous
livestock was about Rs. 1, 73,350 crore at current cattle of very low productivity account for major
prices in 2005-2006. Milk accounted for 68 population (Livestock census, 2003). In this
percent of this output. It was higher than paddy region free range grazing system (stray animal)
1. Veterinary Officer, Uttar Pradesh, 2&3. Ph.D. Scholars, Dairy Extension, NDRI, Karnal and 4. Head and Principal
Scientist, Dairy Extension Division, NDRI, Karnal, Haryana
2012-055 Received:April 2012; Accepted:July 2012
342

2. Training Needs of Dairy Farmers
is very prevalent especially goat, sheep and randomly selected villages. Respondents were
indigenous cattle. Stall feeding is limited only the active member and the decision maker about
to buffalo, basically in irrigated area. dairy farming in their family. The relevant
Undernourishment during recent drought of 4 variables for the present study were selected
years has made the bovine population relatively on the basis of extensive review of literature,
infertile. Dairy animals possess long dry period consultation with scientists and also based on
and calving interval. Due to improper or theoretical relationship. The information was
underfeeding they become infertile leading gleaned through well structured and pre-tested
unproductiveness. There may be many reasons interview schedule by interviewing the dairy
associated with each problem but the common farmers. To determine training needs, schedule
reasons behind all problems is the lack of was developed. These were determined with the
training in production (breeding, feeding, help of three points continuum, viz., seriously
healthcare and disease management) and needed, needed and not needed at all with
processing , marketing and finances related to respective scores of '2' , '1' and '0'. Perceived
dairy farming. Without the training no one able training needs of individual practices were
to adopt latest technologies for dairy development, determined after taking in to consideration its
only training can help in the improvement of respective obtained score. On the basis of
dairy farming practices to boost up farmers perceived training need score, all respondents
knowledge, skill, attitude, and value for making were categorized in to three groups, viz., low
a better improvement for better living. It has medium and high by using mean and standard
been proved that maximum milk production could deviation. To measure the extent of training
be achieved if all the recommended dairy practices needs 'training needs index' was calculated by
were adopted. (Raut and Chole, 1991). Training following formula:
can play a pivotal role in increasing individuals' Total obtained score
knowledge, skill, attitude and values which in Perceived training
turn will prompt farmers to adopt latest needs index = ---------------------------------x 100
technologies in dairy farming. Keeping this in Maximum obtainable score
mind, therefore, an effort was made through
this study to find out "Perceived Training Needs The statistical analysis of tabulated data was
of Dairy Farmers Regarding Improved Dairy done to establish the relationship of selected
Farming Practices and its relation with their traits of dairy farmers with perceived training
Socio-economic Traits". needs.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The study was conducted in two districts of In the present study a perceived training need
Bundelkhand region, Hamirpur district of UP refers to training need perceived by farmers
region and Chhatarpur district of MP region. themselves in improved dairy farming practices.
Both the districts were purposely selected because Selected Socio-economic traits of the
of rich in livestock population. Two blocks from respondents
each district viz; Rath and Gohand blocks from An attempt was made to describe briefly the
Hamirpur district and Chhatarpur and Naugoan different trait of farmers taken as respondents
blocks from Chhatarpur district were selected for this study. Table-1 presented the summary
randomly. All blocks are having more or less of the profile of the farmers.
same demographic features, cultural system,
Majority (52.50%) of the dairy farmers belonged
and agricultural situation. Two villages from
to middle age group ranging from 36 to 50 years
each block were selected randomly. Twenty
of age followed by the category of old (>50 yrs)
respondents, on the basis of land holding & who
and young (<36 yrs) which accounted for 16.88
were having at least one milch animal were
per cent and 30.63 per cent respectively. 14.38
selected by proportionate stratified random
percent of the respondents were illiterate, 13.75
sampling. Complete enumeration was done of
per cent were functionally literate, 10.00 per
randomly selected villages. Total 160 respondents
cent were educated up to primary, 25.00 per
were selected proportionally from the eight
cent up to middle level, 14.38 per cent were up
343 Indian J. Dairy Sci. 65(4), 2012

3. B.P.S.Rajput et al.
to secondary or metric, 11.25 per cent were Distribution of the farmers according to their
educated up to higher secondary level and only perceived training needs in major areas of dairy
11.25 per cent were graduate and above. The farming
study showed that majority of dairy farmers, i.e., The given Table 2 revealed that in breeding
(69.37%) belonged to medium category followed area maximum numbers of farmers, i.e., (81.87%)
by large (17.50%) and small (13.12%) respectively. were in medium category of perceived training
Majority 91.88 per cent of the respondents were needs followed by 10.00 and 8.13 per cent in
having no membership in any organization high and low categories of perceived training
followed by 5.00 per cent who were members of needs respectively. Although perceived training
two organizations and 2.50 per cent were needs regarding breeding was medium but most
members in one organisations & only 0.63 of the respondents reared indigenous breed. The
percent were members of three organisations. reason behind it may be, semen for A.I. was not
This implied that the social participation of the available required quantity and timely, most of
respondent was low. More than 50.00 per cent the farmers were dependent on natural service.
of member (56.87%) belonged to the medium In case of feeding most of the farmers (83.75%)
category of milk production whereas, only 1.87 felt medium level training needs followed by 17.50
per cent was in the high category of milk and 11.25 per cent in low and high level of training
production. Most of the dairy farmers (75.00%) needs categories respectively. Most of the farmers
were found selling less than one litre of milk preferred training need in 'urea treatment
daily. Majority i.e.70.62 per cent farmers had technology' to increase nutritive value of their
low extension contact whereas 73.12 per cent wheat straw and "preparation of balance ration".
farmers had high level of mass media exposure. In the area of management most of the farmers
Table 1: Selected socio-economic traits of the respondents
(n=160)
Characteristics Categories Respondents
Frequency Percentage
Age (in years) Low(<36) 49 30.63
Medium(36-50) 84 52.50
High(>50) 27 16.88
Education Illiterate 23 14.38
Functionally literate 22 13.75
Primary 16 10.00
Middle 40 25.00
Secondary (up to metric) 23 14.38
Higher secondary (up to 12th ) 18 11.25
Graduate and above 18 11.25
Social participation No membership 147 91.88
Membership of one organisation 4 2.50
Membership of two organisations 8 5.00
Membership of three organisations 1 0.63
Milk production (litres) Low (<2.27) 66 41.25
Medium (2.27-6.34) 91 56.87
High (>6.34) 3 1.87
Milk sale (lit/day) Low (<1) 120 75.00
Medium (1-2) 28 17.50
High (>2) 12 7.50
Extension contact Low (<1.8) 113 70.62
Medium (1.8-3.26) 26 16.25
High (>3.26) 21 13.13
Mass media exposure Low (<5.11) 17 10.62
Medium (5.11-8.61) 26 16.26
High (>8.61) 117 73.12
344

4. Training Needs of Dairy Farmers
(75.00%) felt medium level of training needs Distribution of different categories of farmers
followed by 17.50 and 7.50 per cent low and high in major areas of dairy farming related with
level training needs categories respectively. perceived training needs
In case of health care, it is obvious from Table Table 3 revealed that marginal farmers had
that majority of the farmers (77.50%) felt medium maximum perceived training needs in fodder
level of training needs followed by 11.25 and production (77.23%) followed by management
11.25 percent in low and high level of training (76.56%), feeding (76.34%), health-care (75.63%)
need categories respectively. Fodder production and breeding (71.25%), respectively.
was the area in which, 75.63 per cent of farmers Small farmers had maximum perceived training
were in medium level of perceived training need in management (76.17%) followed by health-care
in comparison to other areas. In this area, (76.05%), fodder production (75.00%), feeding
farmers who felt low training needs were 6.88 (72.74%) and in breeding (72.11%), respectively.
per cent. Only 17.50 per cent farmers felt high Semi-medium farmers had maximum perceived
level of training needs. training need in the area of fodder production
These findings are in line with those of Asif (73.10%) followed by health-care (72.98%), feeding
(2006) and Lal (2004) related to improved dairy (71.58%), management (71.28%) and breeding
farming practices. Asif (2006) revealed that (64.68%) respectively. Medium farmers had
majority of the respondents (70.31%) fall in maximum perceived training needs in the area
medium training needs category followed by low of management (71.68%) followed by health-care
training needs (21.88%) and high training needs (71.61%), feeding (71.43%), fodder production
(7.81%) respondents whereas Lal (2004) found (70.28%) and breeding (65.48%), respectively.
that the majority of the respondents were in Large farmers had maximum perceived training
medium and low level of knowledge in breeding, needs in the area of health-care with the
feeding, management and health care. Therefore percentage of (78.33%) followed by management
he concluded that there was a training need of (73.61%), fodder production (72.62%), feeding
the respondents in all areas i.e. breeding, feeding, (70.83%), and breeding (68.33%) respectively.
management and health care. In case of all categories, farmers had maximum
Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to Perceived training needs
(n=160)
Perceived training need Category Respondents
Frequency Percentage
Breeding Low (<5.50) 13 8.12
Medium (5.50-8.14) 131 81.87
High (>8.14) 16 10.00
Feeding Low (<8.89) 8 5.00
Medium (8,89-11.38) 134 83.75
High (>11.38) 18 11.25
Management Low (<11.44) 28 17.50
Medium (11.44-15.11) 120 75.00
High (>15.11) 12 7.50
Health-care Low (<6.36) 18 11.25
Medium (6.36-8.51) 124 77.50
High (>8.51) 18 11.25
Fodder production Low (<8.98) 11 6.88
Medium (8.98-11.69) 121 75.63
High (>11.69) 28 17.50
POOLED Low (<43.16) 23 14.38
Medium (43.16-52.92) 118 73.75
High (>52.92) 19 11.88
345 Indian J. Dairy Sci. 65(4), 2012

5. B.P.S.Rajput et al.
Table 3: Distribution of different categories of farmers in major areas of dairy
farming related with perceived training needs
(n=160)
Farmers category Breeding Feeding Management Health Fodder Pooled
Marginal 71.25 76.34 76.56 75.63 77.23 75.71
Small 72.11 72.74 76.17 76.05 75.00 74.56
Semi-Medium 64.68 71.58 71.28 72.98 73.10 70.99
Medium 65.48 71.43 71.68 71.61 70.28 70.38
Large 68.33 70.83 73.61 78.33 72.62 72.73
Pooled 68.19 72.72 73.75 74.38 73.79 72.79
perceived training needs in health care followed was reported to be highest by the pooled sample
by fodder production, management, feeding and of dairy farmers, followed by knowledge and
breeding, respectively. Whereas, maximum diagnosis of common disease and first aid
training needs was required by marginal farmers treatment of common ailment respectively. The
followed by small, large, semi-medium and similar trend was found in case of marginal,
medium dairy farmers, respectively. small, semi-medium, medium and large farmers.
In the field of breeding, training needs about However the maximum percentages of training
knowledge of high yielding breeds and their in all aspects of health- care were perceived in
selection was reported to be highest by the pooled large, marginal, and small farmers.
sample of dairy farmers, followed by artificial The training regarding fodder production,
insemination and identification of heat symptoms preservation of green fodder was reported to be
in animals. Almost the same trend was found highest by the pooled sample of dairy farmers,
in case of all marginal, small, semi-medium, followed by crop rotation for availability of green
medium and large categories of dairy farmers. fodder round the year and knowledge about the
However the maximum percentage of training high yielding fodder crops respectively. The almost
needs in all aspects of breeding practices were same trend was found in marginal, small, semi-
perceived by marginal and small farmers. medium and large farmers. However the
The training regarding feeding, feeding of mineral maximum percentages of training in all aspects
mixture and legumes was reported to be highest of fodder production were perceived in large, small
by the pooled sample of dairy farmers, followed and semi-medium farmer
by balance feed and its composition and time of Relational analysis
feeding in animals. The same trend was found The results in the Table-4 revealed that education
in case of all marginal, small, semi-medium, is negatively and significantly correlated with
medium and large categories of dairy farmers. perceived training needs at 1% level of
However the maximum percentage of training significance, Social participation, extension
needs in all aspects of feeding practices were contact, mass media exposure, and knowledge
perceived in marginal, large and small farmers. of respondent are negative and significantly
The training needs regarding management, correlated with perceived training needs at
keeping records of milk production was reported 5%level of significance in relation to improved
to be highest by the pooled sample of dairy farmers, dairy farming practices.
followed by dewarming of the animals and care CONCLUSIONS
at time of calving respectively. The almost same On the whole it could be concluded that the
trend was found in case of marginal, small, semi- majority of the farmers were under medium
medium, medium and large farmers. However category of perceived training needs regarding
the maximum percentages of training in all improved dairy farming practices. The maximum
aspects of management were perceived in large, extent of perceived training needs regarding
medium and marginal farmers. improved dairy farming practices was found in
The training needs regarding health-care, Marginal farmers and was minimum in medium
ectoparasite and endoparasite control in animals categories of farmers. Finally, it was extracted
346

6. Training Needs of Dairy Farmers
Table 4: Relationship of perceived training needs of Bundelkhand.
with selected traits of farmers
(n=160) REFERENCES
Anonymous, 2003. "Livestock census". Department of
Traits Correlation Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of
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Social participation -0.2082** dairy entrepreneurs of Murshidabad district of West
Extension Contact -0.3251** Bengal. M.Sc. Thesis, (Unpublished) NDRI, Karnal.
Mass Media Exposure -0.2699** Bhasin, N. R. 2008. President's desk. Indian Dairyman,
Knowledge of respondent -0.4114** 60(11):3-5.
**significant at 1% level * significant at 5%level Lal, B. 2004. Impact of K.V.K. training programme on
knowledge and attitude of farmers in improved dairy
farming practices. M.Sc. Thesis, (Unpublished) NDRI,
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knowledge on improved dairy farming practices, Raut, V.S. and Chole, R.R. 1991. Training needs of
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347 Indian J. Dairy Sci. 65(4), 2012