Evaluation of Competency Needs by Women Farmers in Taro Production for Increase in Food Production in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluates the competency needs of women farmers in taro production in Enugu State, Nigeria. The Study used a descriptive survey research design. Two objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses were used for the study. The population for the study was 360 comprises of 345 registered women farmers and 15 extension agents. Total enumeration sampling techniques were employed because the population was not too large; therefore, the whole population was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled 'Evaluation of competency needs of women farmers in Taro Production'.  360 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents, retrieved and analysed. The data were analysed using need gap analysis to answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The needs performance was determined by calculating the mean (Xn) of the needed category for each item. The performance Gap (Gp) was therefore determined by finding the difference between Xn and Xp for each item (PG=Xn-Xp). In a situation where the value of GP is positive (+ve), it means improvement is needed because the level at which Women farmers are performing is lower than what is expected. On the other hand, where GP is negative (-ve), it means improvement is not needed because Women farmers are performing more than what is required. And when GP is zero (0), it means improvement is not needed because the level at which Women farmers are performing is equal to the level needed. In testing the hypotheses, if the P-value calculated is less than .05 level of significance, the null hypotheses will be rejected; otherwise, they will be retained. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that taro farmers need improvement in planning and planting operations in taro production in the study area.  It was therefore, recommended that women farmers should be trained on planting for improved taro production and food security in the area.