Training need assessment of ERI silkworm Rearers in Golaghat district of Assam

Introduction

Sericulture is one of the agriculture-based industries which basically involve rural masses for production of silk. The cultivation process of silk seeks diverse operations to be performed in farming and non-farming sector throughout the year and ensures periodic income even with small holdings. The cultivation of silkworm plays an important part in development of rural people as it blends with farming systems and has the ability to induce attractive income all time round (Dewangan, 2016) [3] . Sericulture industry can be seen as an effective socioeconomic tool for inclusive growth and for creation of gainful employment to the rural and unemployed youth which helps to uplift the socio-economic status of small and marginal farmers (Seshagiri and Raju, 2019) [10] . Assam is one of the traditional states where all the four varieties of silk viz. eri, muga, mulberry and tasar are commercially exploited since time immemorial. In the year 2022-23, India produced 36,582 MT of raw silk out of which the contribution with regard to Assam was 5721 MT (Anon., 2023a) [1] . The silk produced by eri silkworm is regarded as third most vital silk in the world after mulberry and Chinese tasar (Suryanarayana, 2005) [11] . Eri culture is mostly popular among the rural women folk and being considered as an additional income of the family to fulfill their requirement. Many factors are directly or obliquely connected to the successful yielding of high-quality silk with training and motivation being the crucial element. Mass production of high-quality silk requires training and motivation. Training is the process of acquiring new skills, attitudes and knowledge related to preparing for employment and increasing productivity in the profession. Training needs assessment process helps determine the priority of changes in knowledge, skill, attitude and behavior that will provide the greatest on achieving organizational or individual goals (Sajeev et al., 2021) [9] .

To make any training meaningful and effective, identifying the area of farmer's interest, design and development of curriculum that suit to the existing real conditions of farmers is one of the crucial steps of training needs assessment (Rahman et al., 2018) [8] . Various improved and innovative technologies were also developed by scientists and researchers of different research institutes for increasing production and productivity. Although to a large extent, the new technology and methods have been understood and practiced by a number of sericulture farmers today, the training need still exists to educate them further and also others who are yet to take it, so that the average production could be further improved. Keeping in view the above facts into consideration, the present study was undertaken to assess the training needs of eri silkworm rearers in the Golaghat district of Assam.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted in the Golaghat district of Assam purposively as the region occupies a higher position in terms of eri raw silk production (146.99 MT) in Assam (Anon., 2023b) [2] . The respondents for the study were chosen using a purposive and random sample approach. Among 35 districts of Assam, Golaghat is purposively selected for the present study as Golaghat district is one of the major silk-producing districts of Assam. Out of 8 development blocks in the Golaghat district, 4 developmental blocks viz., Podumoni block, Morongi block, Dergaon block and Gamariguri block were chosen purposively for the study because of the availability of the eri silkworm rearers population. A total of 160 respondents were selected for the present study from the 8 villages under the 4 Developmental Blocks based on the selection criteria of the study. The training needs of silkworm rearers were measured by developing a structured schedule on the basis of package of practices of silkworm rearing. To calculate the overall training need, three-point continuum scales consisting of 'very essential', 'essential', and 'not so essential' were used. The score assigned was 3 for very essential, 2 for essential, and 1 for not so essential, respectively. After calculating the total score and mean scores of each item, the rank values were assigned and for preference of training in a particular area the below mentioned scale was adopted:

Training need assessment of eri silkworm rearers

The training need is operationalized as the gap between farmer's present knowledge and desired knowledge of

Results

Training needs of the eri silkworm rearers in scientific eri culture technologies

The data presented in Table 1 and Fig. 1 It may be expected that the primary factors influencing the overall training needs of eri silkworm rearers were a lack of scientific understanding, less extension interaction, and less social participation, as a result of which they lack up-to-date information on new technologies. However, eri rearers wanted to study new technology in order to expand their knowledge and skills. From the Table 2, it is revealed that training needs regarding raising of host plants, which is mainly annual in nature, seed collection and selection (MS 1.40) was reported as their first priority by the eri rearers. Preparation of land ranked second. Seed treatment and sowing of seed ranked third and fourth respectively. Although, according to category of preferences, all the subject areas were considered as not so essential by the respondents. However, as regards to perennial plantation, propagation method (MS 2.30) was given the first rank by the respondents, whereas the preparation of nursery bed was ranked second and spacing and main field preparation ranked third and fourth, respectively. Similarly, transplanting, seed sowing, maintenance of nursery, selection of land, seed collection and selection and seed treatment were reported by the eri rearers as the least important for training needs priority (V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X), respectively. 4 revealed that identification of pests and diseases in host plants were ranked first with mean score 2.69. Whereas, the respondents have given second priority on the use of plant protection measures to control pests and diseases (MS 2.59).

The training needs of the respondents with regard to silkworm seed production are shown in Table 5. Out of total nine subject areas for training needs, the respondents identified six subject areas as very essential. The table also revealed that the respondents prioritized training on mother moth examination with mean score of 3.00 followed by surface sterilization of eggs (2.96) whereas pairing and depairing of moth (2.13) was given least importance.

Discussion

It was observed from the study that the majority of the eri silkworm rearers required training on various areas of silkworm rearing. With regards to the raising of host plants, the propagation method was given 1st rank and perceived as "very essential" by the majority of eri rearers. The cause might be due to lack of scientific understanding. In the studied areas, the majority of eri rearers lack permanent plantations. The eri silkworm feeds primarily on castor leaves that naturally grow along roadsides or in backyard areas. A huge portion of the eri rearers prioritized training on seed selection and collection of host plants which might be due to lack of knowledge about quality seeds for yearly plantation. The rearers also preferred training on spacing as there were varied spacing for cultivating different silkworm hosts plants which were unknown to rearers. Thus, it can be concluded that the rearers desired training in order to acquire essential information and establish a permanent plantation.

Regarding the management of host plants, nutrient management was placed first for training needs since it plays a vital influence on the quality yield of any plant.

Manures and fertilizers are the most essential sources of plant nutrients, and they have a direct impact on the growth and development of host plants. Similarly, training, pruning, and pollarding were ranked second. The farmers may have prioritized these problems because they wanted to maximize their profits by proper maintenance of the plants resulting in successful harvest. Respondents also indicated a preference for training concerning leaf harvesting which could be attributed to lack of knowledge about the right method and timing of harvesting.

With regards to training needs regarding plant protection measures, it revealed that "very essential" are as identified were pest and disease identification in host plants, use of plant protection measures to control pests and diseases and calculation of quantity, method and time of using pesticide. The rearers were unaware of pests, various disease preventive approaches and information on the right time and ways of using pesticides, as well as the negative implications of chemicals.

With respect to silkworm seed production, it is observed that the rearers perceived training as very essential in various aspects i.e. mother moth examination, surface sterilization of egg, synchronization of moth emergence, incubation of egg and storage and re-use of male moth because seeds are the foundation of the sericulture industry. In the studied area, the rearers generally grow and prepare the required eri seeds on their own without employing any scientific techniques, which leads to disease outbreaks whereas in case of mulberry silkworm the seed was supplied by thestate department. Since rearing of disease-free quality seed is utmost important for the production of quality cocoons, therefore, appropriate training in these areas were indicated by the respondents.

In view of silkworm rearing, the eri silkworm rearers emphasized training in the selection of eco-races of eri silkworm, the issue could be lack of understanding or awareness regarding eri silkworm eco races. Some eri rearers have never even heard of eco-races. In respect of post cocoon technology, the grading of cocoons was given 1 st rank and perceived as "very essential" by the eri rearers. This could be because people are not aware of the cocoon grading system, which reflects the quality of raw silk. Due to lack of understanding in this area, rearers were unable to determine the quality of raw silk, making it impossible for them to obtain a good price for the cocoon.

Eri rearers in the studied area used to spin the yarn in takli, a traditional spinning machine. The majority of the eri rearers did not receive training in this area and were unaware of the improved spinning machine like Choudhury spinning machine, CSTRI spinning machine or solar spinning machine. As a result, they needed training on the new and improved machines. Similarly, eri rearers expressed interest in dyeing methods for eri silk in order to get knowledge about the dyeing process. Utilizing by products for valueadded product preparation allows rearers to get more profit. The rearers in the studied locations utilized pupa as a delicious human food but they had never utilized pupa and other by products for other value-added product preparation and wished to learn so that their socio-economic status could be improved. Marketing was one of the mainproblems in different sericulture areas. Due to lack of proper marketing channels, there was exploitation of middlemen in the studied area. As a result, the rearers did not get the exact return. Hence, the eri rearers showed interest to learn about marketing procedures and price behaviour. It can be inferred from the study that the majority of the eri silkworm rearers in the studied area needed training in various aspects of ericulture from host plants cultivation to silk production. More emphasis was given in the areas of plant protection, disinfection, mother moth examination, surface sterilization of egg, synchronization of moth emergence, storage and re-use of male moth under seed production technology; disease and pest management during eri silkworm rearing; and grading of cocoon, spinning of eri cocoon in improved spinning machine, utilization of by product for value-added product preparation and marketing under the area post cocoon technology. The situation might be due to high involvement in traditional practice and lack of scientific knowledge, less extension interaction, and less social participation, as a result of which they lack up-to-date information on new technologies. On the other hand, rearers wanted to study new technology in order to improve their knowledge and skills on new and improved technologies. Rabha and Saikia (2021) [7] revealed that majority of the women involved ineri culture need training in the areas like by product utilization, grading of cocoon andsilk, disinfection, pest and disease management of silkworm, plant protection, spinning of silk in modern machineries and disease-free laying preparation. Similar findings were observed by Yadaw and Sharma (2020) [12] who found that the tasar silkworm farmers in Chhattisgarh perceived training in the areas like plant protection measures, processing of cocoons and pest and disease control in silkworm. Mech et al. (2010) [5] found almost similar findings while studying training need of rural women in eri culture in Assam province. Prasad et al. (2010) [6] reported that the commercial CRC owners expressed training needs on disinfection andhygiene maintenance. Geetha and Devi (2008) [4] observed that the sericulture farmers needed training in areas like disease and pest management, marketing, sericulture economics, sericulture management and rearing management.

Conclusion

Eri culture is a remunerative crop which suits all the categories of farmers from small/marginal farmers with meager resources to large farmers, and has a short gestation period, the returns are quick. Continuous training programmes are very much required to update the knowledge of the farmers which in turn ensures success in the venture. The findings on the extent of training needs of silkworm rearers revealed that the majority of the rearers exhibited a medium level of training needs on eri silkworm culture. It can be concluded that the training programme should be carefully planned, taking into account the requirements, issues, and potential applications of new technology including plant protection, processing of cocoons and pests and disease control both in host plant and silkworm.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors are thankful to Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat for providing necessary support to carry out the research work.

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