Assessment of Training Needs of Rural Youth in the Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh State, India

Abstract

The study was conducted for assessing training needs of rural youth by selecting 240 rural youths from four districts from Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh State viz. Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, and Dhar. It was revealed that average age of the respondents was 29.12, about 36.66 percent of the respondents were educated up to 10th std. Majority of the respondents (61.25 per cent) had medium farming experience (4-14 years) whereas 30.83 percent respondents had belonged to ‘semi-medium farmers’ category i.e. possessing land in the range of 2-4 ha. It was found that respondents had very low social participation. Major source of information were sales representatives of input companies, use of mobile phone, advice from progressive farmers, relatives and friends. Based on preferences mentioned by the respondents, top 7 training aspects were Integrated Pest and Disease Management, Integrated Nutrient Management, Crop Production Management for Soybean, Potato, Wheat etc, Weed Management Practices, Organic Farming Technology, Livestock Management and Agri related secondary occupations like Vermicomposting respectively. Receiving of training on such aspects will help them to achieve good productivity level of major crops as well as agriculture allied entrepreneurial activities will be undertaken by them.