Development of Entrepreneurial Skill Manual on Aloe Vera Production for Training Farmers in Benue State

Abstract

This study was on development of entrepreneurial skills manual in aloe vera production for training farmers in Benue State. Specific objectives for the study were to: identify the objectives for aloe vera production, determine the content of aloe vera production manual for achieving the objectives for farmers, determine the training methods required by trainers in teaching aloe vera production to farmers, identify the facilities required for training farmers in aloe vera production, determine the evaluation techniques for assessing farmers’ achievement of objectives of aloe vera production in Benue state. Five research questions were raised and answered; five hypotheses were formulated and tested at P ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The design for the study was survey research design. The population for the study was 201 made up of 59 lecturers from University of Agriculture Makurdi and 142 extension agents in Benue State. The entire population was involved by means of census. An instrument titled: Aloe Vera Entrepreneurial Skills Production Questionnaire (AESPQ) developed by the researchers from literature reviewed and their experience. Mean was used to answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at P ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that: that 9 objectives of aloe vera production are required for training farmers in Benue State, 65 cluster items formed the content of aloe vera production manual for achieving the objectives for farmers in Benue State, eight methods required for training farmers in aloe vera production, 17 facilities for training farmers in aloe vera production and 6 techniques for assessing farmers achievement of the objectives for aloe vera production manual in Benue State. It was therefore recommended that Agricultural Extension agents should regularly organize seminars and workshops for training of farmers and retraining of graduates to improve their technical efficiency using this manual, researchers should use the manual emanating from this study as a reference material for further research among others.