Training Needs Assessment for Groundnut Production Technology of Groundnut Growers in Rain Fed Tract Punjab Pakistan

Groundnut (ArachishypogeaL.) being annual kharif legume crop has not been given special attention in past. There are multiple uses of this crop worldwide and in Pakistan. It is an excellent cash crop for rain fed areas of Pothwar having potential to get foreign attention through export. Present study was planned to evaluate the training needs of groundnut growers regarding its scientific production technology. Respondents (240) were interviewed from Tehsil Jand of district Attock randomly. Enormous number of respondents were having satisfactory knowledge about 3-4 ploughing while preparing the land. Most of the respondents were having excellent knowledge level about planking. The results depicted that 39.5% respondents were having fair type of knowledge about fertilizer application at the time of land preparation. Knowledge level for registered varieties (BARI-2000, BARD-479, Golden and BARI-2011) was inconsistent. Knowledge about sowing of groundnut with tractor mounted drill was in satisfactory. There was average level of knowledge to differentiate between healthy and diseased seed. While, appropriate seed rate usage for cultivation was observed to be of low importance. Most of the farmers were unaware about the sowing time from 25th March to 31st May. Poor farmer's knowledge (23.75%) of hoeing after 3-4 weeks of sowing was observed and good level of familiarity at flowering stage was recorded. Recommended dose of nitrogen application was (31.25%) with about 28.33 % respondents were having good level of knowledge for recommended P application. Potassium application knowledge was recorded below 50% of farming community, while 45.83% respondents were with poor knowledge of K application. Mostly (52.50%) respondents were unaware of the advantages of the gypsum application. Maximum knowledge level for mechanical harvesting was observed (23.33%) in satisfactory category and (26.25%) of conventional methods under same level. It has also been found from results that farmers are not well aware about advantages of gypsum so there is need of increasing awareness level of farmers about benefits of gypsum application. This study has concluded that institutions should play their role to educate farmers for adoption of advance production technology to get good production from this cash crop.