ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken during 2023-24 to measure the perceived gaps in professional competencies among extension personnel of Karnataka State Department of Agriculture. The “ex-post-facto” research design was employed to collect data by personal interview method and through google form using structured questionnaire from the sample consisting 120 extension personnel comprising AOs and AAOs randomly selected from seven districts of Northern Karnataka coming under the jurisdiction of UAS, Dharwad. The results of the study revealed that majority of the extension personnel belonged to the middle age category (67.50%) and possessed graduation (55.00 %), and around two-fifth of extension personnel shown medium level of job satisfaction (40.00%), medium self-confidence (42.50%), medium achievement motivation (39.17%), medium job stress (40.83%).
The incidence of overall gaps in professional competencies as perceived by extension personnel highlight that ‘personal qualities to carry out tasks’ shown high gap index (18.69), followed by ‘knowledge to carry out tasks’ (17.30) and ‘skills to carry out tasks of KSDA’ (15.79).
Educational qualification, attitude towards extension work, job involvement, job satisfaction, self-confidence, achievement motivation and organisational climate exhibited positive and significant relationship at 1 per cent level of significance with the possession of professional competencies of the extension personnel.
Less opportunities for promotions, lack of cooperation and support from other development departments and lack of focus on solving immediate requirements of farmers were the major constraints. Provision of rewards and promotions for good work, recruitment of field staff, and educational approaches to develop confidence in the required abilities to solve the problems of farmers were the major suggestions highlighted for reducing the gaps in professional competencies.