Training Needs Assessment of Women in Small Scale Livestock Production and Its Implication for Socio-economic Empowerement in Oyo State, Nigeria

The aim of this study was to assess the training needs of rural women in livestock production in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to collect data from 180 women from two (Ibadan/Ibarapa and Ogbomoso) zones of Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) using a well structure interview guide. The data was analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and mean while chi-square was used to test the relationship between variables. Results from the study showed that more than half (57.5%) of women were into poultry production having less than 30 birds as stock size. Also, 82.2% and 42.3% indicated a need for training on general management of poultry and on sheep and goat production respectively. Credit (85%), lack of capital (90%), high mortality rate (51.7%) and inadequate information (63.5%) were some of the constraints in livestock farming as indicated by the women. Chi-square analysis result showed that primary occupation and age was significant (P= 0.05) to training needs of women in pig production. It is therefore recommended that government development strategies be modified to encourage and empower through training in livestock production and also allow women to have access to credit as this will allow them boost their production level.