International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

The Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE) program, initiated in 1983-84, aimed to equip students with the necessary skills for specific professions, including agricultural mechanization. This study is a comparative analysis of the training needs of such on-job trainees enrolled in Agricultural Machinery Operator (AMO) and Power Tiller Operator (PTO) courses in Kerala, India. The research involved 126 respondents from two schools, GVHSS(THS) Kodungallor and GTHS Chittur, of Kerala with 78 AMO and 46 PTO students. Training needs were assessed using a three-point continuum and analyzed through mean scores and Mann Whitney U test. Results indicated a preference for training on safety in operating agricultural equipment, mechanization in agricultural operations, and components and working of a tiller. Socio-demographic factors such as age, mass media exposure, and entrepreneurial intention showed positive correlations with training needs. The study highlights the importance of tailored training programs to enhance the technical capabilities of young students in agricultural mechanization and suggests further capacity-building initiatives to address income disparity and entrepreneurial intentions.