Competency Improvement needs of Women in Agriculture in Processing Cocoyam into Flour and Chips for Food Security in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on the identification of competency improvement needs of women in agriculture (WIA) in processing cocoyam into flour and chips. To achieve these objectives, four research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in South-eastern Nigeria made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State The target population for this study was 362 women processors. It was found out that women processors required improvement in cocoyam processing enterprise as follows: planning competencies (12 competency items), processing cocoyam into flour (13 competency items), processing cocoyam into chips (13 competency items) and marketing (7 competency items). It was therefore recommended that co-operatives, government agencies, and relevant NGOs should help use the findings of this study to improve acquisition of competencies of women in cocoyam processing for food security in South-Eastern Nigeria.