TRAINING NEEDS FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN FARMERS AND RURAL YOUTH OF JAMMU & SAMBA DISTRICTS OF UT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Training is a indispensable instrument for HRD at any level and cannot be ignored. First and foremost activity for planning a good training programme is to access the local needs. Need assessment helps to indentify the present problems and future challenges to be met through training and development. The present study was conducted in four rural tehsils of Jammu & Samba districts of UT of J&K. From each selected tehsil, 25 farm families were randomly selected. Thus a total of hundred farm women respondents were selected for data collection. The villages were purposively selected, as they wherein consultance with KVK's operational in the area. For the study specific and relevant trainings needs were collected by administering interview schedules for data collection. The farm women responses were collected on a three-point continuum scale. The results reveal that maximum respondents sought trainings in area of “ income generating activities for empowerment” and “Stitching, tailoring and handicraft making” ( 58% and 55% respectively) as most sought after training needs assessment in both the districts under study. This was followed by “marketing and branding of value added products.” (53%), “value addition”, “kitchen gardening” “post harvest technology” and Gender mainstreaming through SHG formation were reportedly other activities in demand. Thus requiring stake holders to prioritize and readdress through specialized interventions.