ABSTRACT

The overall objective of this study is on factors affecting manpower development

and agribusiness productivity. The study used well structured uestionnaire for the

analysis. 72 respondents (firms) were used for the study comprising 16 respondents

from firms producing agricultural products and 56 respondents (finns) from firms

jng agricultural products. Data were analyzed using frequencies,

percentages, regression and chi-square. The result of data analysis shows that

56.25% of the firms using agricultural products had lasted for about 5-8 years and

48.2 1% of the firms producing agricultural products have lasted for about 5-8

years. This implies that majority of the firms are experienced agribusiness firms

(firms using agricultural products) were located in urban area while majority of

finns (firms producing agricultural products) are located in rural areas (about

69.64%). Furthermore, it was shown that 68.75% of firms using agricultural

products did not borrow while 3 1.25% of the firm borrowed. 71.42% of firms

producing agricultural products did not borrow while 28.57 borrowed; this

indicates that majority did not borrow from any financial institutions. The largest

number of employees falls within 10-19 and has the highest percentage of 43.75%

by firms using agricultural products, while in the firms producing agricultural

products, the highest number of employees fall within 0-9 and has the highest

percentage of 80.36%. 31.71% of the firms are facing the problem of low market

and lack of fund (firms producing agricultural products) while 68.75% of firms

using agricultural products are facing the constraints of low market patronage.

From the study, it was revealed that amount invested in manpower development

and working condition have a positive and signifiant effect on productivity, while

income, number of employee and production have a positive and significant effect

on manpower development. The chi-square test shows that there is significant

difference between manpower development and productivity. This difference could

be as a result of the amount invested in manpower development, this means that

the higher the manpower development, the higher the productivity. Before an

enterprise or firm can best achieve increase in productivity, there must be

manpower planning inline with manpower training and development. So owners of

enterprises (managers) should channel all necessary resources to developing

manpower through adequate consistence manpower planning. The management

should encourage their staff by involving themselves in self developmental

programs through the various remuneration payment, incentive package,

motivational measures etc. that will really signify that the organization needs their

personal outputs.