Training Needs of Extension Personnel in Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Farming

Abstract

Assessment of training needs and subsequent capacity
enhancement are important for the efficient
performance of extension workers. An investigation
was conducted among the field level extension
workers to identify the gaps in their technical skills
pertaining to farming of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp.
The study indicated that extension personnel lacked
skills in on-farm disease diagnosis and management,
water quality management, shrimp seed selection,
pre-stocking water culture and biofloc technology
concerned with L. vannamei shrimp farming. Study
also indicated that differences in the socio-personal
attributes of the respondents did not influence the
training requirements. It was suggested that an onfarm
experiential training programme using ‘group
learning mode’ with appropriate training curriculum
needs to be arranged at different locations
covering the coastal states. Further, in the absence of
strong research-extension linkage, ICT aided tools
like expert system, mobile application and a knowledge
portal on L. vannamei farming need to be
developed, validated and uploaded by ICAR-CIBA
for the capacity enhancement of field level extension
workers.