International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Chhatrapati Achane, Smita Kolhe, MP Nande, AV Khanvillakar, TC Shende, RP Kolhe and Jayesh Lokare6

abstract
The present study entitled “Effectiveness and Perceived Utility of Podcasts Developed for Goat Farmers in Western Maharashtra” was designed to develop a podcast, especially for goat farmers, by determining the priority of their information needs towards goat farming. An exploratory research approach was employed, with four steps: prioritizing goat farmers' information needs, developing a podcast, evaluating the podcast's effectiveness and perceived utility, and assessing accessibility issues. Purposive random sampling was used to select a total of sixty respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra, along with personal interviews. All socioeconomic characteristics evaluated for goat producers were classified into the medium category. The goat farmers' information needs were assessed as 'Most needed' for breeding, feeding, and health care and 'Needed' for management practices. A series of ten podcasts, 'Dhade Shelipalanache', were developed following goat farmers' information needs. Upon the podcast's development, its effectiveness and perceived utility were evaluated. The vast majority of goat farmers perceived the Podcasts to be very effective in enhancing their knowledge of goat farming (63.33%), the content was appropriate to the topic presented (60%), presented in a precise manner (65%), felt that it was very simple to understand (55%), audio quality was good (50%), arouse curiosity and interest (55%), and perceived to be highly useful (70%). Respondents reported a few problems with analyzing Podcasts. The developed podcast series, 'Dhade Shelipalanache,' is an excellent means of delivering scientific information to goat farmers. It is imperative to create a need-based podcast series covering many aspects of scientific animal husbandry to provide information about animal husbandry in the simplest manner, which would be beneficial to livestock owners.