ABSTRACT

This study is on income generation from agro processing in Owerri North LGA, Irno State. The specific objectives include: identifying agro processing activities specifically done by women in the study area, determine sources of funds for processing activities, evaluate the economic returns accruing from processing activities, examine the problems that militate against agro processing in Owerri North LGA, determine access by processors to processing technologies, estimate the regression equation for palm oil processed in the area and make policy recommendations based on my findings. Two autonomous communities were purposively chosen for the study and the respondents selected through a systematic random sampling technique. Data were analysed using statistical tools like percentages, frequencies, gross margin analysis, chi-square and regression analysis. Results suggested that the average income generated by processors per 50kg production process for palm oil and garri are N765.00 and N35 1 .70 respectively. The regression co- efficients are positive for capital, age, educational level, men labour, women labour and women access to improved agro processing technology indicating that output can be raised using more of these variables. Housho1d size, processing experience, children labour are inversely related to the quantity produced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgment iv

Table of Contents v

Abstract vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1 .2 Statement of the problems 3

1 .3 Objectives 4

1.4 Hypothesis 5

1.5 Justification of the study 5

1.6 Limitation of the study 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE 7

2.1 Meaning and characteristics of Agro-processing 7

2.2 The role of women in processing palm oil and garri 7

2.3 Women access to processing technologies 10

2.4 Problems militating against agro processing by women 11

2.5 Gross Margin Analysis 13

2.6.0 Steps involved in processing 13

2.6.1 Steps involved in processing palm oil 13

2.6.2 Sterilization 14

2.6.3 Bunch stripping 14

2.6.4 Boiling 14

2.6.5 Pounding or Fruit Digestion 14

2.6.6 Oil extraction 15

2.6.7 Oil Clarification 15

2.6.8 Filtration 16

2.6.9 Steps involved in garri processing 16

2.6.10 Cassava processing methods 1 6

2.6.11 Processing of garri 1 7

2.6.12 Peeling the roots 17

2.6.13 Washing the roots 17

2.6.14 Grating 17

2.6.15 Fermentation and dehydration 17

2.6.16 Sieving 17

2.6.17 Frying 17

2.6.18 Cooling 18

2.6.19 Packaging 18

2.6.120 Income generation by women 19

2.6.12 1 income generation by women in agro processing 19

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21

3.1 Area of study 21

3.2 Sample size 21

3.3 Sampling procedure 21

3.4 Method of data collection 22

3.5 Method of Data Analysis 22

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION 24

4.1 Number of respondents 24

4.2.0 SOCIO-.ECONOMIC DATA ON RESPONDENTS 24

4.2.1 Gender composition of respondents 24

4.2.2 Age distribution of respondents 25

4.2.3 Marital status of the respondents 26

4.2.4 Level of formal education attained 27

4.2.5 Years of processing experience 27

4.2.6 Types of commercially processed products 28

4.2.7 Household size of respondents 29

4.2.8 Occupation of respondents 30

4.2.9 Membership of co-operatives 30

4.2.10 Access to agro processing technology 31

4.2.100 Access to improved palm oil technology 31

4.2.10 1 Access to improved garri processing technology 32

4.2.11 Types of agro processing technology owned 32

4.2.111 Types of palm oil processing technology owned 33

4.2.112 Types of garri processing operations technology owned 34

4.2.12 Source of processing technology 34

4.2.13 How information on technology is received 35

4.2.14 Working capital for processing 36

4.2.16 Gender roles in agro processing operation 38

4.2.16 1 Gender roles in palm oil processing operation 39

4.2.162 Gender roles for garri processing operations 40

4.2.17 Factors that limit processing 40

4.2.171 Factors that limit palm oil processing 41

4.2.172 Factors that limit garri processing 42

4.2.18 Sources of Funds 42

4.2.18 1 Sources of Funds for processing palni oil 43

4.2.182 Sources of Funds for processing garri 1 43

4.2.19 Average quantity of palm oil processed per month 44

4.30 ESTIMATION OF REGRESSION EQUATION FOR AVERAGE

QUANTITY OF Palm oIl PROCESSED PER MONTH 45

4.4.0 ESTIMATION OF ECONOMIC RETURNS ON Agro pro;essing 47

4.4.1 Gross margin Analysis of palm oil 47

4.4.2 Gross margin analysis of garri 49

4.5 Testing of hypothesis (Ho) 50

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY/RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS 51

5.1 Summary 51

5.2 Recommendations' 52

5.3 Conclusion 53

References 54

Appendix 56

 Map of the Study Area