ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVED METHODS OF SHEA-NUT COLLECTION AMONG SHEA-NUT PICKERS IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

The study examine the assessment of improved methods of Shea-Nut collection among Shea-Nut pickers in Niger State. Data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions, analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation. A multi- stage sampling technique was used to select a total of the 200 respondents for the study. The result revealed that the 41.50% of the respondents were within age bracket of 31-40 years. However, 92.5% of the sampled respondents were married with non-formal education. In addition, 53.50% of the respondents earn N50,000.00 as income. Majority (89.00%) of the respondents collect the shear-nut in an opened field. From the estimate of the regression, educational level was significant factor (p<0.05) in determining shea nut collection method. The study concluded that, Shea nut collectors are mainly women, aged and married, with non-formal education. The choice of collection techniques are influenced by occupation and the educational status of the respondents. It is recommended that stakeholders in Shea-nut industry should interact with Nigerian Institute for Oil palm Research (NIFOR) that has the national mandate on Shea tree research and development to produce sufficient quantity of hybrid/improved Shea tree seedling varieties for modern plantation establishments.