Skill Improvement Needs of Pepper Small holder Farmers for Increased Production in Rivers State, Nigeria

Résumé

The study determined the skill improvement needs of pepper small holder farmers for increased production in River State, Nigeria. Survey research design was used for the study. Four objectives, four research questions and two hypotheses were used for the study. The population of the study is made up of 20,100 registered pepper farmers and 64 extension agents across the State. The sample size for the study was 400 which was determined using Taro Yamane Formula. After which simple random sampling techniques were applied to select the respondents for the study comprising the North, Central and Southern senatorial districts. The instrument for data collection was a self-development questionnaire titled "Skill improvement needs of farmers in pepper production for increased production Questionnaire (SINFPPIPQ)", which was designed in line with the research questions and hypotheses raised for the study. The instrument was subjected to face and content validation by three experts: one from the department of Agricultural education, one from the department of agronomy and one from the department of educational foundation, all from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The questionnaire was subject to trial testing with (30) respondents (farmers) and (10) extension agents in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data collected from the trial testing were analysed using the Cronbach Alpha reliability method, which yielded a coefficient of 0.81 and 0.84 for need and performance respectively, indicating that the instrument was reliable. The instrument was administered by the researcher with the help of three (3) research assistants in the study area. 400 copies of questionnaires were administered to the respondents and collected immediately. A rating scale of four points was used as response to questions. The data collected were analysed using weighted mean and Improvement Needed Index (INI) to answer research questions, while Chi-square was used to test the research hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that pepper farmers in River State, particularly in areas such as planning, planting, harvesting and marketing of pepper should be given adequate training to enhance better performance. It was therefore recommended that extension agents should establish targeted training programmes to improve farmers’ skills in planning as well as provide practical training on how to carry out pepper planting for better production in the area.