ABSTRACT
The researcher assessed the accessibility and utilization of Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) information by women for effective Agro-based Entrepreneurship in Abia State, Nigeria. This study was, therefore, conducted in Abia State to: identify the PHT information needs of the Women Agro-based Entrepreneurs (WAE); find the extent of awareness of PHT information by these WAE; ascertain the extent of accessibility and utilization of PHT information by the WAE; find out the PHT information sources accessed and utilized by the WAE; highlight the PHT information preferred by the WAE and proffer suggestions for improving accessibility of PHT to the women for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in the study area. Data were collected from a sample of 264 women respondents from a population of 2,358 registered WAE in the state with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. The collected data were analysed with relevant descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that both the younger aged (20-45 years) and older aged (≥ 46 years) women agro-based entrepreneurs in the state have the same PHT information needs with no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in all the mean responses of the two groups of women after hypotheses testing. The recorded high extent of awareness of PHT information amongst these women came from internet, information officers, extension agents, family members and peers with the awareness of PHT information from community libraries and reading of books rated low. Though the WAE generally had substantial access to different types of PHT information, the highly utilized ones were those on consumer choice, food packaging, storage of agricultural products, handling of agricultural produce, post-harvest loss prevention and preservation of harvested crops while the ones that had low extent of utilization included: value addition/ processing, quality standards, commodity distribution, marketing regulations and PHT credit facilities. The preferred PHT information sources by the WAE in the study area include: radio, television, mobile phones, social media, family members, colleagues, information officers, extension agents, internet, group meetings and research annual technical reports. The respondents in the study area generally agreed that the use of the local language in the delivery of PHT information, establishment of more community libraries and information centres, regular visits by extension agents, regular training workshops and more radio and television programmes and/or channels dedicated to PHT information would improve the accessibility and utilization of PHT information by WAE in the state. Finally, it is recommended that librarians and information scientists should not only collaborate with other professionals and stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental) to provide relevant material assistance to WAE but should also repackage PHT information in the forms that will enhance their accessibility and utilization by the WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State and areas with similar culture and agro ecology.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List
of Tables ix
List
of Figures xi
Abstract xii
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 6
1.3 Purpose of the Study 7
1.4. Research Questions 8
1.5 Hypotheses 10
1.6 Significance of Study 11
1.7 Scope of the Study 13
CHAPTER
2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual Framework 14
2.1.1. Concept
of accessibility 15
2.1.2 Concept
of utilization 17
2.1.3. Concept of entrepreneurship 19
2.1.3.1 Concept of
agro-based entrepreneurship 20
2.1.4 Concept of women 22
2.1.4.1 Concept of women
agro-based entrepreneurs (WAE) 23
2.1.5 Concept of post-
harvest technology (PHT) 24
2.1.6 Concept of PHT
information 27
2.1.6.1
PHT information needs of women agro-based entrepreneurs
(WAE) 30
2.1.7 Sources of PHT information 31
2.1.7.1 Extension agents 33
2.1.7.2 Information
officer and public relations officer 36
2.1.7.3 Mobile phones and
social media 37
2.1.7.4 Community libraries 39
2.1.7.5 Radio and television 40
2.1.7.6 People 42
2.1.7.7 Miscellaneous sources 42
2.1.7.8 Information provider 43
2.1.9 Conceptual model 44
2.2 Theoretical Framework 47
2.2.1. Theory
of change (ToC) 47
2.2.2. The
Donabedian theory of 1966 48
2.3 Review
of Empirical Studies 49
2.4. Summary
of Literature Review 57
CHAPTER
3: METHODOLOGY
3.1.
Design of the Study 59
3.2. Area
of the Study 60
3.3. Population
of the Study 64
3.4. Sample
and Sampling Techniques 64
3.5.
Instrument for Data Collection 66
3.6. Validation
of the Instrument 67
3.7. Reliability
of the Instrument 67
3.8. Method
of Data Collection 68
3.9. Method
of Data Analysis 69
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
4.1. Results 71
4.2. Major
Findings of the Study 93
4.3.
Discussion 98
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 107
5.2 Conclusion 113
5.3 Recommendations 116
5.4. Implication
of the Study 118
5.5. Limitations
of the Study 119
5.6. Suggestions
for Further Studies 119
References 120
Appendices 133
LIST
OF TABLES
4.01: Mean
responses of younger and older WAE on the PHT
Information
needs for effective agro-based entrepreneurship 71
4.02: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older
WAE
on PHT information needs for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 72
4.03: Mean
Responses of younger and older WAE on the extent of
awareness
of PHT information by WAE in Abia State 74
4.04: t-test
analysis of the mean responses of younger and older WAE
on the extent of
awareness of PHT information for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 75
4.05 Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the
extent
of PHT information accessible to WAE for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State 77
4.06: t-test
analysis of the mean responses of younger and older WAE
on the extent of accessibility of PHT information
for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 78
4.07: Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the
extent
of PHT information utilized by WAE for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State 79
4.08: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
the extent of utilization of PHT
information for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 80
4.09: Mean
responses of younger and older WAE on the
sources of PHT
information accessed by WAE for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State 81
4.10: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
PHT information sources accessed for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 83
4.11: Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the
sources
of PHT information utilized by WAE for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State 84
4.12: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
PHT information sources utilized for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 85
4.13: Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the
sources
of PHT information preferred by WAE for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State 86
4.14: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
sources of PHT information preferred for effective
agro-based
entrepreneurship 87
4.15: Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the factors that
influence
the accessibility of PHT information by WAE
for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State 88
4.16: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
the factors that influence accessibility of PHT information
for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship 89
4.17: Mean responses of younger and older
WAE on the factors that
influence
the utilization of PHT information by WAE for
effective
agro-based entrepreneurship 90
4.18: t-test analysis of the mean
responses of younger and older WAE
on
the factors that influence utilization of PHT information
for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship 91
4.19: Mean
responses of younger and older WAE on the ways of improving accessibility and
utilization of PHT information among WAE
for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State 92
LIST
OF FIGURES
1: Conceptual model for accessibility and
utilization of PHT
information 46
2: Map
of Abia State indicating the three Senatorial
Zones
and seventeen Local Government Areas 63
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Prompt
access to and utilization of improved Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) information
has the potential of enhancing the productivity of Women in Agro-based
Entrepreneurship (WAE) in Abia State, Nigeria for sustainable food security and
effective business performances. According to Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations, about one-third of all food produced in the world is
lost or wasted. In vastly food-insecure areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa, about52%
of fruits and vegetables,44% of roots and tubers, and 20% of all grains are
lost between harvest and consumption. There is also substantial degradation in
nutritive content, quality, associated incomes, reduced financial value, and
public health. Given this precarious situation and an expected world population
increase from 7.6 to 9.8 billion by 2050, rapid resource depletion and a
changing climate, food and post-harvest loss reduction need to be at the centre
of strategies for sustainable development. As the global community strives to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eliminating poverty and
hunger by 2030, improved post-harvest technology (PHT) has the potential to
eliminate loss of food and nutrition requirements of 48 million people in
Sub-Saharan Africa, the region most at risk of food and nutrition insecurity
(FAO, 2017).
In
agriculture, PHT is about the practices that are applied to agricultural
commodities between harvest and consumption in order to prevent post-harvest
losses, control the quality, process and increase value to the agricultural
products to meet the consumers’ food and nutritional requirements. According to
Ukpabi & Nwosu, (2013), PHT stimulates agricultural production by
preventing post-harvest losses, improves nutrition, adds value to agricultural
commodities, opens new marketing opportunities and generates new jobs. PHT is
aimed at keeping commodities in an acceptable state from harvest until it
reaches the consumers since many agricultural commodities are transported in
their perishable state. It is also aimed at minimizing losses at the least
possible cost.
In
Nigeria, efforts are made by the government of the federation to revive the
agricultural sector in line with the SDGs of United Nations. Some of these
efforts are evident in the initiation of advanced scientific research
approaches for the production of improved varieties of agricultural
commodities, PHTs, agricultural information transfer and substantial employment
for her teaming men and women. Women comprise nearly half of the world’s workforce
and supply the main financial support for 30 percent of the world’s homes
(Al-Hadad, 2015) mainly through growing of crops, post-harvest value addition
and marketing. Women make essential contributions to agriculture and allied
activities in developing countries, but their roles differ significantly by
region and are changing rapidly in some areas (Babu et al., 2014). Accordingto Nwosu et al. (2014), women are adult female persons. In most cases, women in agro-based
entrepreneurship (WAE) differ in their information needs and in their access to
and utilization of available post-harvest technology (PHT) information from
extension service and other sources. Such diversity among WAE could be related
to various personal, social, economic, or institutional factors.
Understanding
the reasons behind such diversity, their information needs, and WAE’s current
level of access and utilization of PHT information is of paramount importance.
Women in entrepreneurship have been mainly neglected both in society and in the
social sciences (Singh and Sharma, 2011). Entrepreneurship development among
women aids to increase their decision making status in the family and society
as a whole, and also enhances theirpersonal capabilities (Prabha, 2009 and
Guillén, 2013). Agro-based entrepreneurship involves the micro, medium and
large scale production and selling of agricultural produces in the hope of
making profit.
Oladele
(1999)opines that the efficiency of technologies produced and disseminated rests
oneffective communication which is the vital process of information
dissemination. Ayanyemi (2006), Bates
(2012) and Adio et al. (2016)
describe information as a vital resource for individual growth and for reducing
the user’s level of uncertainty. Bitso (2012) describes information source as
the medium by which information is stored or conveyed. PHT information is the message or part of
agricultural information that is concerned with the knowledge about how to
preserve, conserve, store, add value, control quality, process and reduce loss
of agricultural commodities. PHT information is meant to enhance the business
performances of women in agro-based entrepreneurship. PHT Information Sources
are the channels and or containers that possess information about the science
and technology that are applied to agricultural produce from harvest to consumption:
for preservation, conservation, processing, storage , value addition, quality
control and utilisation for meeting consumers food and nutritional needs. These
PHT Information Sources include libraries, information officers, extension
agents, mass media, family members, friends and group meetings.
Access
and use of existing PHT information are considered key elements of advanced
agriculture system in addition to being the fundamental and salient promoters
for agricultural development throughout the states of Nigeria which include
Abia State. Accessibility to PHT information by women is receiving messages
related to post-harvest activities from different sources and extension methods
such as mass media, extension service (advisory service, orientation about
seasonal activities information, training, field days, demonstration, visits),
on-farm research, including its frequency while, utilization of post-harvest
technology information refers to the use or converting into action the accessed
and understood post-harvest technology messages to perform their agricultural
businesses.
According
to Litman (2017), accessibility (or just access) refers to the simplicity of
reaching goods, services, activities, information and endpoints, which
collectively are called opportunities. He further defines accessibility as the
would-be for interaction and exchange. Ugah (2008) attributesaccess to
information source to the ability of the information users to identify
available information sources and use the sources. The proper identification
and utilization of appropriate PHT information is sine qua non to the effective planning and decision making in
agro-based entrepreneurship. According to Emasaelu, (2014), utilization refers
to the application and adequate use of information resources identified and acquired by consumer to solve
problem and make decision. Unfortunately, many women in agri-businesses
in Sub-Saharan Africa rely on indigenous knowledge as source of information and
this local knowledge has not adequately helped to prevent post-harvest losses
and add value to agricultural produce. Proper utilization of improved PHT
information by the women agro-based entrepreneurs in Abia State has the
potential of increasing their effectiveness in value addition to agricultural
commodities, minimizing the post-harvest losses of agricultural produce and
handling quality assurance of agricultural products.
Therefore,
as new PHT Information from different information sources (electronic, prints
and other sources) emerge, it is wise to survey and assess how effectively the
information is accessed and utilized by those that need them, particularly the
Women in Agro-based Entrepreneurship (WAE) in Abia State. WAE can play a substantial role by their effective and
proficient involvement in entrepreneurial activities. They have basic local
skill, knowledge, potential and resources to create and manage enterprises. In
line with Singh and Sharma (2011), entrepreneurship is a force that
mobilises other assets to sufficiently supply vast market demands and the
capacity to produce something from practically nothing by means of creating
value through pulling together a unique bundle of resources to exploit an
opportunity.
Women
can be given relevant information to enhance their managerial skills since many
have the “spirit” of entrepreneurship (Kahan, 2013) as entrepreneurship
involves profit making through organized businesses (Ikeme, 2012).Women agri-
entrepreneurs as defined by Vijayakumar and Naresh (2013) are those women who
take the lead in organized agricultural business (or industry) that provide
employment for others. These women are confident, innovative, creative and able
to achieve self-economic liberation in collaboration or individually. They
create opportunities of employment for others through initiating, establishing
and growing the enterprise by keeping pace with their social, family and personal
lives (Mayilvangnan and Santhum, 2015). Therefore, for the aim of this study,
Women in Agro-based Entrepreneurship (WAE) can be considered to be women who
are between twenty years of age and above and are involved in micro, medium and
large scale agricultural and allied businesses in the hope of making profit.
These businesses range from the production to the post-harvest stages of
agro-based entrepreneurship. In this study also, younger WAE refer to women in
agro-based entrepreneurship who are 45 years and below while the older WAE
refer to women in agro-based entrepreneurship who are 46 years and above.
Therefore,
this study while ascertaining the accessibility and utilization of PHT
information by women for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State,
will attempt to identify the PHT information needs, the extent of awareness of
PHT information sources, PHT information source preference, factors that sway
the access and use of the PHT information sources and provide useful policy
recommendations for effective information service delivery to WAE.The content
of the findings of this study therefore would revolve around the independent
variable, accessibility and utilization of PHT information by younger and older
WAE and effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State as the dependent
variable.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
The
substantial decrease in food quality, reduced financial value and heavy losses
of agricultural produce after bumper harvests in an era when agricultural
research scientists have conceived improved post-harvest technologies that
ought to address these problems is distressing. While much post-harvest
technology (PHT) information are made available by these research scientists
and other information providers through different information sources, the need
for their access and use by the prevalent women agro-based entrepreneurs in
Abia State in particular for proper integration into their agro-based
entrepreneurship is essential.
The
effect of not accessing and using the PHT information by these women could
cause poor planning and wrong decision making in their agri businesses. It
could also contribute to the inconsistent product quality and supply, loss of
agricultural commodities and inadequate intermediaries to develop relationship
between vendors, purchasers and any other value chain partners. The women
agro-based entrepreneurs in Abia State are devastatingly using only indigenous
knowledge in their agro-based entrepreneurship instead of the improved
post-harvest technologies.
Though,
some authors, Amaechi & Oyemike (2015), Gebre-Selassie (2001), Umali
(1994), Daudu et al. (2009), Odini
(2014) and Adetimehin et al.(2018) have dealt with agricultural information,
none of these studies specifically addressed accessibility and utilization of PHT
information by Abia State women agro-based entrepreneurs for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship. Therefore, this study is set to investigate
the accessibility and utilization of PHT information by women for effective
agro-biased entrepreneurship in Abia State, Nigeria.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of this study is to ascertain the accessibility and utilization of
Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) information by Women for effective Agro-based
Entrepreneurship in Abia State, Nigeria.
Specifically,
the objectives of this study are to:
i)
identify the PHT information needs of younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE
for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State ;
ii)
examine the extent of awareness of PHT
information by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
iii)
ascertain
the extent of accessibility of PHT information to younger (20- 45 years)
and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
iv)
ascertain the extent of utilization of PHT
information by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
v)
find out the PHT information sources
accessed by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
vi)
find out the PHT information sources
utilized by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
vii)
highlight the PHT information sources preferred by
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
viii)
identify the factors that influence the
accessibility of PHT information to younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46
years) WAE for effective agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State;
ix)
determine the factors that influence the
utilization of PHT Information by
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State; and
x)
proffer ways of improving accessibilityand
utilization of PHT information
among younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
following research questions (RQ) would be answered:
i)
What are the PHT information needs of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based
Entrepreneurship in Abia State?
ii)
What is the extent of awareness of PHT
information by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
iii)
To what extent is the PHT information
accessible to younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
iv)
To what extent is the accessed PHT
information utilized by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
v)
What are the sources of PHT information
accessed by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
vi)
What are the sources of PHT information
utilized by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
vii)
What are the sources of PHT information preferred
by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for effective agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State?
viii)
What are the factors that influence the
accessibility of PHT information by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46
years) WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
ix)
What are the factors that influence the
utilization of PHT information by younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years)
WAE for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
x)
What are the ways of improving
accessibility and utilization of PHT
information among younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State?
1.5.
HYPOTHESES
The
succeeding hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
HO1: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on PHT information needs for
effective agro-based Entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO2: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the extent of awareness of
PHT information for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO3: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the extent of
accessibility to PHT information for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in
Abia State;
HO4: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the extent of utilization
of PHT information for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO5: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the PHT information
sources accessed for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO6: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the PHT information
sources utilized for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO7: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the sources of PHT
information preferred for effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State;
HO8: There is no significant difference between the mean responses of
younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAE on the factors that influence
the accessibility to PHT information for effective agro-based entrepreneurship
in Abia State;
HO9: There is no significant
difference between the mean responses of younger (20- 45 years) and older (≥ 46
years) WAE on the factors that influence the utilization of PHT information for
effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State.
1.6.
SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
To
bring about national food security, effective entrepreneurship and quality
assurance in agricultural sector, accessibility and utilization of PHT
information sources can play decisive role. The findings from this study
therefore, would enrich the body of knowledge and literature in PHT information
sourcesand would also be beneficial to the government in its food security
programmes. It would as well be very useful to librarians, agricultural
research scientists and information scientists, agricultural entrepreneurs, and
the general public.
One
of the roles of government is the provision of information to increase
efficiency and enhance the growth of the economy. Through the findings of this
study, the government would be provided with meaningful intervention
suggestions that would enable her make effective and implementable policies and
follow-up in food security and national development. Though information is also
provided by members of the private sector, the findings of this study will
enable the government to identify where investment in public information is
most effective.
This
study should reveal networks of PHT information and, in particular, the sources
of information available and which sources are preferred and utilized by the
users of PHT information. The agricultural research scientists and information
scientists would benefit from the findings of this study. The findings will
help them to be conscious of the preferred information sources so as to know
how to package and repackage information for optimal access and use. Also,
through the findings of this study, the research scientists and other
information providers, who work tirelessly for the provision of new improved
technologies would understand the preferred sources of information by the
supposed users of these information and more appropriately direct their efforts
in making available the information through the sources that would be
appreciated, accessed, understood and utilized by the users of PHT
information.
Farming
and its allied businesses are knowledge-intensive industry. Though, both the
public and private institutions have been supplying farmers and other
stakeholders with information, inadequacies in the agricultural information
system, such as the inability to consistently provide accurate, timely and
easily accessible information present several challenges to farmers and
agro-based entrepreneurs. The farmers and agro-based entrepreneurs need to
obtain and use financial, technical and regulatory information as well as
information on value addition and quality control to be able to manage their
farms and create worth to their agricultural produce for optimal production,
marketing, distribution and subsequent quality consumption. Therefore, this
study would avail the agro-based entrepreneurs the opportunity to express their
opinions on the factors that inhibit their desired access and use of
post-harvest technology information sources and also make possible suggestions
that may help improve effective service delivery by the PHT information
providers.
Identifying
the available PHT information and making
a concrete assessment on their accessibility and utilization by women for effective
agro-based entrepreneurship would in no little measure assist the agricultural
research scientists, entrepreneurs, library, information and agricultural extension service providers
and other stakeholders on upgraded techniques to package, repackage and
communicate relevant PHT information to the women in agro-based
entrepreneurship for improved food safety and economic growth throughout the State.
With the well-documented result of this study, government and non-government
agencies should give planning strategies and policies that would be effective
in the dissemination of information on agro-based support and new technologies
to the women in agricultural businesses.
1.7.
SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
This study primarily ascertains the extent
of accessibility and utilization of Post-Harvest Technology (PHT) information
by younger (20 -45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) WAEfor effective agro-based
entrepreneurship in Abia State. The study coversAbia State Senatorial Zones
which are, Abia North Senatorial Zone, Abia Central Senatorial Zone and Abia
South Senatorial Zones. The study was carried out in the year 2018 with younger
(20-45 years) and older (≥ 46 years) women in agro-based entrepreneurship drawn
from across Abia State. The content of the findings of this study therefore
revolved around the independent variable, accessibility and utilization of PHT
information by WAE and effective agro-based entrepreneurship in Abia State as
the dependent variable.
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