Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
N Vimalrajkumar and NV Kavithaa

Abstract:
Dairy farming significantly contributes to augmenting family income by offering meaningful employment opportunities, particularly in rural regions, notably among landless, small, marginal farmers, and farm women. While farm men predominantly engage in agricultural activities, farm women traditionally take on substantial responsibilities in dairy husbandry. Enhancing the profitability of dairy enterprises necessitates farmers' proficiency in adopting improved dairy farming practices. Consequently, it is essential to ascertain the training requirements of farm women to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of any training initiatives. The study was conducted in the Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Bhavanisagar, and Thokkanaicken Palayam (T.N. Palayam) blocks of the Erode district in Tamil Nadu. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select a sample of 40 rural women actively involved in dairy farming from each block, resulting in a total sample size of 160. Data collection was carried out through personal interviews using a pre-designed interview schedule. Healthcare and disease control emerge as the primary areas of interest for both knowledge and skill-based training among respondents, with feeding and management, as well as housing of dairy animals, following closely. Conversely, marketing and finance are identified as the least preferred areas for training. In minor operations, the most sought-after knowledge pertains to the proper design of cattle sheds, breed selection, formulation of balanced feed utilizing locally available ingredients, vaccination protocols, and banking and insurance practices. Dairy farm women have indicated their preference for training during the summer season, ideally in March, conducted within their resident villages. The majority of respondents (77.00%) expressed a preference for a one-week duration of training, while 75.00% of farm women suggested an annual training interval. To enhance the knowledge and skills of dairy farmers, it is recommended to organize more participatory and need-based training sessions through outreach centers. Additionally, training modules for various dairy management practices should be developed in consultation with Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) to enhance production and productivity among dairy farmers.