Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The poultry industry plays a crucial role in the global food supply chain, with poultry farmers serving as key stakeholders. However, the success of poultry farming operations is heavily dependent on the managerial competence of the farmers. This research aimed to explore the managerial competence and training needs of poultry farmers to provide insights for effective training programs and support systems. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, involving both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with poultry farmers. The study found that managerial competence among poultry farmers encompassed a wide range of skills and knowledge areas, including financial management, animal husbandry practices, marketing strategies, and regulatory compliance. While most farmers demonstrated proficiency in certain aspects of poultry farming, there were identified gaps in areas such as record-keeping, disease management, and strategic planning. Training needs assessment revealed that farmers expressed a strong desire for training programs that could enhance their skills in the identified areas of deficiency. Specifically, farmers expressed interest in workshops, hands-on training sessions, and access to online resources for continuous learning. Moreover, the study highlighted the importance of tailoring training programs to the specific needs and preferences of poultry farmers to ensure maximum effectiveness. The findings of this research have significant implications for the development of training initiatives targeted at improving the managerial competence of poultry farmers. By addressing the identified training needs and providing tailored programs, stakeholders in the poultry industry can enhance the overall productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of poultry farming operations. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of ongoing support systems and knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate continuous learning and skill development among poultry farmers. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the managerial competence and training needs of poultry farmers, highlighting the importance of targeted training programs and support mechanisms. By addressing the identified gaps in managerial competence and providing relevant training opportunities, stakeholders can contribute to the professional development and success of poultry farmers, ultimately benefiting the poultry industry as a whole.

Thesis Overview

Introduction
Background Information

Poultry farming is the practice of raising domesticated birds such as chicken, turkey, duck, geese, pheasant, guinea fowl etc. as a subcategory of animal husbandry for the purpose of producing meat and egg for food and other by-products such as droppings, feathers as raw materials for industries. Poultry refers to domesticated birds that are reared majorly for meat and egg and sometimes, other by-products. In Agricultural resource management study (ARMS) formally known as farm cost and returns survey (FCRS) poultry include oestriches and other game birds but most operation raise only one specie of poultry for single purpose e.g. farmers keep laying hen to produce egg for human consumption or for breeding purpose. Some raise starter, pullets and others concentrate on raising chickens or turkey for meet production. (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1954).
The three most common species of poultry are domesticated fowl, duck and turkey; few breeds of chicken are Andalusian, Orpintons which are made up of white, black and buff orpingtons, leghorns, Plymouth Rock etc. breeds of turkey include Norfolk turkey which is black with spotted white wing, Cambridge turkey, a bronze grey bird larger and leggier than the Norfolk. Breeds of duck; buff orpington duck, pelkin duck also known as the island duck, Australian spotted, American black etc. (Noris 2005). Since domestic fowl accounts for over 90% of the total number of poultry across the globe, more emphasis will be placed on domesticated fowl in the course of this study.
More than 50 billion chickens are reared annually all over the world as a source of food (poultry farming – wikiedia, 2011). This is attributed to the importance of poultry products in terms of its nutritional values such as quality protein, liquids, carbohydrate, multitude of vitamins, minerals, cholesterols and pigments (Izunobi, 2002). Research has shown that in Nigeria poultry as a source of meat supplies about 20% of the total meat needs of the nation. This is grossly inadequate when compared with that in developed countries like America where as at 1915,poultry enterprise was already existing in the yard of many homes of the rural and small town families (U. S. Department of Commerce).
Research has pointed out that in most part of Nigeria, poultry farms operate in a less equipped poultry houses under the care of less competent poultry farmers that are less concerned about the recent technologies that are relevant for the improvement of their poultry management and increasing the yield of their input. This is one of the major reasons why most developed countries in the world produce and consume higher poultry products than Nigeria. In the United States for instance, statistics has it that the estimate of egg consumption is 250 – 300 egg per head per annum, this is in contrast to Nigeria where the estimated egg consumption is 20-25 eggs per head per annum (Oluyemi and Robert, 2000). Therefore, there is urgent need for training poultry farmers in Nigeria as a whole and in Oshimili South Local government Area of delta State in particular in order to make up for this discrepancy.
Training in simple terms refers to the imparting of specific skills, ability and knowledge through appropriate educational methodology to improve performance and efficiency of the trainee. Training is any attempt to improve current or future employee performance by increasing an employee’s ability to perform through learning, usually by changing the employee’s attitude or increasing his or her skills and knowledge. Training needs depends on lack or deficiency in skills. The need for training and development is determined by employee’s performance deficiency computed as follows
Training need = standard performance ­- actual performance. (Human Resources Management,2010).
Training is basically classified into lectures and on-the-job training. Lecture is the kind of training that takes place off-site i.e. in classrooms or lecture halls. It is used because of its low cost and its capacity to reach many people at a time. It is referred to as a one- way training device and it is sometimes criticized as a training device. On-the-job training takes place at the place of primary assignment. It is most time used as a supplement for the off-site training since it is usually impossible to teach someone everything she needs to know at a location off-site.
Since training is so crucial in developing individual’s managerial ability, it may be referred to as the basis of economic development. Going by the quote by Thomas and portal, (1992) which says development is achieved through investing in human capital and raising the productivity capacity of the society, also the economist school of taught who viewed development primarily in terms of a nation’s relative prosperity, it is therefore of great need that the poultry farmers in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State and those in Nigeria as a whole be assessed to determine whether they need training in order to increase their competence for better management of their farms