Self sustainability of young generation through sheep/goat farming: Impact of vocational training

Abstract

Vocational training allows the participants to prepare for a particular enterprise and is one of the important objectives of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) which emphasis on "learning by doing" for reducing the input cost, generating self-employment, enhancing output and to acquire knowledge about the new technologies in agriculture and allied subjects.In view of this, ICAR-KVK, Dharwad conducted three days vocational training programmed on "Scientific sheep and goat farming as economical security" during the years 2017 to 2021.This study was designed with an objective to study the impact of these trainings on knowledge gain and on adoption of animal husbandry practices by participants and average income of sheep and goat farming by the trainees.Totally 280 youth participated in the training programme, among which 11.79 % participants already had sheep and goat farming but were uneconomical and remaining 88.21 % participants were new to this enterprise and wanted to explore sheep and goat farming.In pre evaluation, participants profile and knowledge on scientific sheep and goat management was assessed by setting up questioner and score was given.During the training different subjects of scientific sheep and goat farming including prevention and control of disease, feed and fodder production, record keeping, project report writing, marketing skills, department schemes, bank facilities, records, marketing and project report were taught in the training, along with exposure visits.Pre evaluation study revealed that average 93.01%participants had poor knowledge on these aspects.Among the participants 64.64% were young and 45.71% were degree holders which indicate that sheep and goat farming mainly attracting the young generation for their selfsustainability.On last day post evaluation was done, it has been observed that 97.96% participants had gained tremendous knowledge on these subjects.In impact analysis was studied after six months on adoption of animal husbandry practices, where vaccination (75.71%), deworming (75%), care and management (74.64%) were highly adopted by participants for sheep/goat farming.Also, 76.78% trainees were started their own sheep and goat farming with average income of Rs. 54000/-with unit size of 10 animals.Such vocational trainings along with field exposure play a vital role in exploring the knowledge to enhance the economic status and to attract the rural youths/ farmers towards profitable enterprise through sheep and goat farming by adopting good animal husbandry practices.