DETERMINATION OF SKILLS REQUIRED IN DUCK PRODUCTION FOR IMPROVED STANDARD OF LIVING AMONG YOUTHS IN EBONYI AND ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The stud determines the skills required in duck production for improved standard of living among youths in Ebonyi and Enugu, Nigeria. Questionnaire Survey research design was used for the study. Three objectives, three research questions and two hypotheses were used for the study. The population for the study was 6,594 comprising 6,347 poultry farmers and 247 extension agents. The sample size for the study was 377 which was determined using taro Yemeni formular the instruments for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Duck Production Skills for improved standard of living Questionnaire (DPSFISLQ). The instrument was face and content validated by five (5) experts, two experts from Agricultural Education, one expert in poultry production- Department of Animal Production, one expert in Mathematics Education and another in Test Measurement and Evaluation- Departments of Mathematics Education all from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University. To ensure the reliability of the instruments it was trial tested on 30 respondents comprising 25 poultry farmers and 5 agricultural extension agents from Benue state. Data were collected and analysed using Cronbach alpha with a reliability index of 0.83 indicating that the instruments were reliable. A total of 377 copies of the questionnaire was administered to the subjects were administered to the respondents with the help of five trained research assistant but only 358 were retrieved which was used for data analysis. The questionnaire was on 4-point response options of Highly Required (HR=4), Moderately Required (MR=3), Slightly Required (SR=2) and Not Required (NR=1). Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. In answering the research questions, a score of 2.50 and above was regarded as required while less than 2.50 was regarded as not required. On the other hand, in testing the hypotheses where the p-value of 0.05 was equal or less than the alpha value, the null hypothesis was rejected otherwise accepted. Based on the findings of the study it was concluded that youths in Ebonyi and Enugu states, Nigeria require skills in feeding, processing and marketing for improved standard of living in duck production. And it was therefore recommended that the Government through the extension agents can organize retraining programmes for the youths in the feeding skills in order for them to become self-reliant in the occupation for better improved standard of living.