Assessing Training Need of the Extension Agents for Value Chain Development

Abstract

Value chain in agriculture has a huge potential for enhancing farmers income and livelihood. In this context, the extension agents can play a pivotal role in linking the farmers to better value chain. Along with the traditional professional competencies, extension agents also need to develop capabilities in the area of value chain development. Under this impression the current study was conducted to assess the training need of the extension agents in this specific domain. A total of 80 extension agents working in the state department of agriculture in Haryana, Delhi development board, KVK Hapur, and KVK karnal were selected randomly for the study. A training need index consisting of the dimensions, crop production, market analysis, agribusiness management, and promoting a viable value chain was developed. The training need index score showed that 10 percent of the respondents were in the very high level of training need, followed by 30 percent in the high level and 25 percent in the medium level of training need. In total 65 percent of the extension agents expressed training need ranging from medium to very high level. Therefore, it can be suggested that, while designing training programme, areas such as promoting a pro-poor value chain, value chain analysis, maintaining good business relationships, judicious use of inputs should be given due consideration by the policymakers.