TECHNOLOGICAL TRAINING NEEDS OFSMALL SCALE OIL-PALMPROCESSORS INNIGERIA

The study assessed the technological training needs of small scale oil palm processors in Osun State, Nigeria. A well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 140 oil palm processors. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, ranking and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypothesis. The study revealed that, 98.6% of the respondents use both modern and traditional method of processing and majority of the oil palm processors (87.1%) store their oil palm in rubber containers. Water related challenges, inadequate fund, unstable pricing of products and lack of government support and in appropriate government policy are very severe constraints to their production. The result also revealed that oil palm processors require training for stripping (8.01), digestion (8.71), mixing (7.88), skimming (7.43), and clarification (7.56) during oil palm processing. Accessing loans and grants, marketing information, appropriate policy for price control amongst others are the most important needs area for extension advice in the study area. The test of hypothesis of the study revealed that a significant relationship exist between age, educational level and experience and the extension needs of the respondents(P= 0.020, 0.012:<0.05, 0.002:0.01 ), while no significant relationship exist between the household size and the extension needs of oil palm processors(P=0.842). The study therefore concludes that, oil palm processors require training as well as advice and technical assistance in a number of areas in order to increase their efficiency. It was thus recommended that Extension Programme should be focused on the need areas of oil palm processors.