effectiveness of modular training at farmers - IPMS Information ...

The data in the Table reveal that there are different actors who were involved in farmers’modular training. About 91.7%, 3.3% and 5.0% of the trainees were selected by developmentagents, PA leaders and administrative staff respectively.The criteria used to select the farmers that are underlined by the guideline of modular trainingwere: Innovative, creative, interested and voluntary youth who have been withdrawn fromschools and involved in agricultural activities, those who engaged in agricultural activities,model and exemplary farmers, age of 18 and above, both male and female farmers, grade fourand above and ability to share knowledge obtained to their colleagues (Adebabay et al.,2008). As a matter-of-fact, the selections made so far show that both male and femalefarmers have not participated equally in modular trainings. The criteria of educationalbackground were violated in selection processes because illiterate farmers and those withoutschooling were included and trained in modular training. It shows that the care taken for theselection was made in a hurry.4.1.3. Training cycle4.1.3.1. Training Need Assessment (TNA)As per the evidence obtained from focused group discussions of development agents, therewas an attempt made by development agents and Woreda experts to conduct training needassessment, but it lacks participation of different stakeholders and direct beneficiaries ortrainees before organizing farmers’ training. Emphasis was not given for the needs of farmersbefore the delivery of the training. What they did was, selecting farmers who are presumed tobe or was progressive farmers or team leaders of development activities and training wasconducted based on the issues what they have in the texts obtained from top levels.Training need assessment can be conducted through direct observation, questionnaire,consultation, focused group discussion, review of documents on the locality, tests, records,and work samples. On contrary, modular training has got deficiency in almost all of thesementioned techniques. Hence, this result agreed with the findings of Kefyalew (2006) who43