One of the major problems faced by developing countries throughout the world is the eradication of poverty, disease and backwardness from rural areas. . In some developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia, the rural population constitutes more than 75% of the total population. Furthermore, of the population in developing countries considered to be in either absolute or relative poverty, more than 80 percent are estimated to live in rural areas. Although this is an old paper, it contains discussion of methods and issues in assessing learning needs which are relevant today. The paper discusses criteria for selecting assessment techniques and then discusses various techniques. It goes on to discuss the level of detail in specifying learning needs. Finally it addresses the important issue of who controls the process which determines whose perceptions of the needs are going to dominate.