Development Of Entrepreneurial Skills Module In Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Production For The Training Of Secondary School Leavers In Nasarawa State
Agbo, T.O.O
1Department of Agricultural Education, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Yakubu, P. K.
Department of Agricultural Education, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Ayang, A.F.
Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria
Keywords: Entrepreneurial Skills, Ginger, Zingiber Officinale, Training, Secondary School Leavers
Abstract
Development of entrepreneurial skill training module in ginger production is a research study that tends to tackle the problem of mass unemployment in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The target population was all Senior Secondary School (SSS) III students in Wamba Local Government Area. The study sort to develop skills module for training of secondary school leavers in seven clusters of husbandry practices viz: Planning, pre-planting, planting, field maintenance operations, harvesting, processing of ginger and marketing of ginger products. Survey research design was adopted for this study. A 61-item structured questionnaire used to elicit responses from 129 respondents who were in SSS III. The questionnaire was divided into seven sections based on the research questions. Each of the skills item has a 4-points response scale of highly needed (HN), moderately needed (MN), slightly needed (SN) and not needed (NN) with a corresponding value of 4, 3, 2, and 1 respectively. The questionnaire was validated by two (2) experts from Departments of Crop Production and Agricultural Extension, University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Data obtained from the trial testing on 20 students in Makurdi, was analyzed using the Crunbach Alpha reliability method with a coefficient of 0.87. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Findings emerging from the study revealed all the skill items in planning, pre-planting, planting, field maintenance operations, and harvesting, processing and marketing operations respectively, were needed for training of secondary school leavers. The researchers therefore, recommended that the training module developed should be used as a workshop guide for secondary school leavers and others who may be interested in Ginger farming, by schools, skill acquisition centers, extension agents and government departments of agriculture. This will go a long way to curb social vices engaged in by youths like thuggery, gangstarism, armed robbery, prostitution, and drug related crimes