ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING NEEDS OF SMALL-SCALE OIL PALM PROCESSORS IN IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the training needs of small-scale oil palm processors in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. In conducting the study, multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 80 oil palm processors. Data collection were through structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and percentage while ordinary least square multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis formulated for the study. Findings show that the mean age of the oil palm processors was 42.68 years. The mean farm size of the oil palm processors in the study area was 0.69 hectares and the mean household size was 6 persons per household. The mean monthly income of the respondents was N43,603.86 per month and the mean years of processing experience of the respondents was 11.63 years. Findings also reveal that skimming (x= 3.99), accessing loans and grants (x= 3.91), sterilization (x= 3.89), threshing (x= 3.88), digestion (x= 3.86), access to improved oil palm seeds (= 3.81), filtering (x= 3.79), mechanized boiling (x= 3.73), packaging and branding of palm oil (x= 3.71), extraction (x= 3.68) and training on marketing and management skills (x= 3.61) were the training needs of oil palm processors in the study area. The study also reveals that the age of respondents (-2.396**), level of education (2.844***) and farming experience (2.437**) significantly influenced the training needs of small-scale oil palm processors in oil palm processing in the study area. The study concluded that small scale oil palm processors were highly in need of training in various areas such as skimming, sterilization, threshing, digestion, access to improved oil palm seeds, filtering, mechanized boiling, packaging and branding of palm oil, extraction and training on marketing and management skills. The study recommended that the extension agencies should intensify efforts in educating small scale oil palm processors through workshops, seminars and farmer trainings on their identified training needs especially in the areas of accessing improved oil palm seeds and the use of improved oil processing techniques.