Impact Assessment of MAITRI Training for Rural Youth Pathway to Self-employment and Enhance Productivity of Dairy Animals

Abstract

The present study was conducted on Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technician in Rural India (MAITRI) trainees at the COVAS, SVPUAT, Meerut, from 2021 to 2024, with 146 respondents and trainings were sponsored by the Uttar Pradesh Livestock Development Board, (UPLDB), Lucknow. These respondents belonged to Western, Eastern, and Central Uttar Pradesh. Data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire on 42 respondents of non-Sample Area and corrective measures would be taken before sending it to the respondents through a Google Form. The collected data indicated that the majority of respondents were Hindu, OBC, educated with a young age group, and had less experience in the (Artificial Insemination) A.I. profession. The respondents were facing several challenges, such as economical, logistical, and lacking in advanced technologies. Despite these challenges, the A.I. services and semen quality were good enough to improve the conception rates. The majority of respondents were inseminating a smaller number of animals along with their primary treatment and so that low income per day from this profession in their area. The chi-square test was found highly significant with Western, Eastern, and Central Uttar Pradesh to selected parameters such as A.I. performed per day, average income per day, average insemination by sex-sorted semen per week, average income from other sources distance covered per day, utilization of liquid nitrogen, and significant to the parameter of average expenditure per day. While parameters like land holding capacity/experience were found non-significant.