B.A.C.A., AAU, AnandB.A.C.A., AAU, Anand2017-11-092017-11-092005http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810035251The concept of training is to educate and train women in their own environment and equip them to meet the emerging problems. So, training is one of the important tools for women empowerment. It enhances knowledge, change attitude and improve skills. Fruit and vegetable preservation is one of the important training programmes among various vocational trainings programmes of Gujarat state for women. Gujarat state occupies 6th rank in India, as in term of total production Indian Subcontinent is referred to as “Paradise of Horticulture” because Indian Subcontinent is favorable for growing almost all types of horticultural crops and these fruit and vegetable have high nutritional value also. India occupies 2nd rank in the world for fruit and vegetables production even through, only one per cent of fruits and vegetables are being processed. So, there is a need to improve the fruit and vegetable preservation sector for minimizing the spoilage of fruit and vegetables. Realizing the importance of fruit and vegetable preservation items, State department of horticulture has been organizing fruit and vegetable preservation training programmes in all the districts of Gujarat state. In Vadodara district, Dept. of horticulture (Vadodara) is conducting fruit and vegetable preservation training programmes. Keeping in view of this importance, the present study entitled “A STUDY ON GAIN IN KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF TRAINED WOMEN TOWARDS FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRESERVATION TRAINING OF VADODARA DISTRICT” was undertaken with the following specific objectives. 1. To study the socio-personal, economic and psychological characteristics of the trained women. 2. To determine the knowledge level of the trained women regarding preparation of selected fruit and vegetable preservation items. 3. To study the attitude of the trained women towards fruit and vegetable preservation training. 4. To determine the extent of adoption of the trained women for selected fruit and vegetable processed items. 5. To know the purpose of the trained women for joining the training programme. 6. To study the relationship between the various characteristic of the trained women and their knowledge about selected items of fruit and vegetable preservation. 7. To study the relationship between the various characteristics of the trained women and their attitude towards fruits and vegetable preservation training programme. 8. To identify the problems faced by the trained women towards fruit and vegetable preservation training. 9. To seek the suggestions of the trained women to overcome the problems. The study was conducted in Vadodara, Padra and Sankheda talukas of Vadodara district which were purposively selected. In all 135 respondents were selected in a proportionate manner. The data were collected during October-2004 by personal contact. The knowledge level regarding fruit and vegetable preservation items was measured through a teacher made type test and the attitude was measured through scale developed by Rao (1986) with due modifications. For measuring other variables, scales developed by past researchers were used. For analyzing the data, statistical tools like Mean, Percentage, Standard deviation and Coefficient of Correlation were used. MAJOR FINDINGS: 1 Slightly less than half (46.7 per cent) of the respondents belonged to the young age group (up to 30 years), 28.15 per cent women had primary as well as secondary education, 61.50 per cent of the respondents were married and had big size of families (62.96 per cent) and 26.66 per cent of the respondents fathers’/ husbands’ had secondary level of education. 2 More than half (53.30 per cent) of the respondents were engaged in household work, large majority (81.48 per cent) of them had no membership in any social organizations. 3. Majority of the respondents had medium level of annual income (52.6 per cent), social economic status (68.14 per cent), overall modernity (75.56 per cent), achievement motivation (74.81 per cent) and a favourable vocational environment (65.94 per cent). 4. Majority of the respondents had medium level of adoption (74.07 per cent) and knowledge (75.55 per cent) about fruit and vegetable preservation items. 5. Majority (63.0 per cent) of the respondents showed the favourable attitude towards fruit and vegetable preservation training, while 20.00 per cent and 17.00 per cent of the respondents had highly favorable and unfavourable attitude towards fruit and vegetable preservation training, respectively. 6 Relationship between the selected characteristics and gain in knowledge about fruit and vegetable preservation items. Out of 13 independent variables, 11 independent variables namely age, education, marital status, educational status of fathers’/husbands’, occupation, annual income of the family, socio- economic status, overall modernity, achievement motivation, vocational environment and extent of adoption had positive and significant relation with gain in knowledge about fruit and vegetable preservation items. 7. Relationship between the selected characteristics and attitude towards fruit and vegetable preservation items. Out of 14 independent variables, 12 variables viz. age, education, marital status, educational status of fathers’/husbands’, occupation, annual income of the family, socio-economic status, overall modernity, achievement motivation, vocational environment, extent of adoption and gain in knowledge had positive and significant relation with attitude of the respondents towards fruit and vegetable preservation training. 8. Problems faced by the respondents Major problems faced by the trained women about fruit and vegetable preservation training were: training time was not convenient, lack of awareness about training, no stipend given to respondent, lack of proper demonstration, lack of self- employment opportunities, lack of transport facilities, non- availability of subject material at hand, lack of proper equipment for practical work and lack of proper sitting arrangements. 9. Suggestions of the trained women to overcome the problems. The suggestions endorsed by the trained women to overcome the problems were, training progarmme should be conducted at leisure time of the respondents, required more number of training programmes, recruit a good knowledgeable demonstrator, should given stipend to respondents, should facilitate proper equipment for practical work, give publicity before conducting training programme, provide transportation facilities and proper sitting arrangements.enAgriculture, Extension EducationstudyOther