Training needs of agents of the plant protection services unit at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Thailand

The results showed that the chiefs and agents had mean ages of 45.56 and 35.85 years respectively. Both groups consisted mostly of married males. The chiefs had higher educational attainments than the agents. The chiefs and agents had lengths of service in their present position equal to 9.64 and 9.13 years, respectively. The PPSU [Plant Protection Service Unit] agents had extensive trainings in plant protection but not on extension methods. Both PPSU chiefs and agents perceived that there was much need for trainings in these areas. There was no significant difference in the training needs as perceived by the PPSU agents and chiefs. This was true for both training areas in plant protection subject matters and in extension methods. The PPSU chiefs and agents had positive attitudes towards the training needs of PPSU agents. They agreed that the PPSU agents needed trainings in their line of work. The attitudes of the PPSU chiefs and agents in Thailand toward the PPSU agents' training needs were not significantly different. A significant relationship exists between the attitudes of the PPSU agents and their perceived training needs in plant protection subject matters and in extension strategies. In the case of the PPSU chiefs, a significant relationship exists between their attitude and perceived training needs of PPSU agents in plant protection subject matters. However, on extension strategies insignificant results were found. This implies that PPSU chiefs with higher levels of perceptions on the agents' training needs in plant protection matters also had higher attitude levels on the same. This is not true, though, in the case of the agents' training needs in extension strategies. The respondents suggested that subject matters to be offered for trainings are modern extension strategies on micro organism control on plant protection, horticulture vertebrates, and field crop needs. It should include field trips and the like.