Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 18 ISSUE 4
Written by Olabode Stephen ALABI, Victor Ogbonnaya OKORIE, Tiwalola Oyeyinka ALABI, Adedayo Olufemi AJAYI

The study considered the training needs of sheep and goat farmers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study profiled the socio-economic characteristics of sheep and goat farmers, assessed their knowledge and skill in small ruminant production management practices, determined the productivity of their management practices, identified their training needs and isolated factors influencing it. A total of 183 respondents for the study were selected via a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data for the study was collected using interview schedule and analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The average age of the farmers was 50 years and 88.0 per cent of them were literate. The average yearly income from small ruminant production was ₦9, 041. Farmers’ level of knowledge was highest in identification of sick animals (x =9.1) but lowest in vaccination (x =1.3). The level of skill of farmers was highest in feeding of animals (x =4.3) but lowest in health management (x =2.5). The average productivity for goat in the study area was ₦29, 642 with many (62.8%) of the farmers producing below the group average value. Also, the average productivity for sheep was ₦50, 066 with 53.0 per cent of the farmers producing below the group average. Construction of modern houses and health management practices are some of the identified training needs of the farmers. Furthermore, age of farmers, their contact with extension agents and level of skill were some of the factors influencing their training needs. The study recommended that the identified training needs should be emphasized in any capacity building programme aimed at improving the productivity of small ruminant farmers in the study area.

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