Training needs of rural women entrepreneurs in non-farm enterprises in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study measured the variables : socio- economic characteristics of the respondents, their non-farm preferred enterprises, perceived training needs, and challenges encountered by the respondents in the study area. The sample size was 120 respondents generated via multi–stage sampling procedure. Data were generated using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, ranks, pooled mean and standard deviation. Results showed 30 years as the mean age of the respondents, 83.3 % were literates, 70.8 % were married and earned a mean monthly income of ₦27,250.00. Eateries ( x̄ = 3.17), farm– gate trading ( x̄ = 3.08), hired labour workers ( x̄ =3.04) and general merchandise (x̄ = 3.00) were identified as non-farm enterprises in the study area. Record – keeping ( x̄ = 4.17), access to capital ( x̄=4.08), self – confidence ( x̄ = 3.83), decision – making ( x̄ = 3.75), resource allocation ( x̄ = 3.71)and market information ( x̄ = 3.50), were identified as preferred training needs by the respondents. High social barrier (100%), lack of start-up fund (95.83 %), lack of credit facilities ( 91.67 %), limited access to business training (79.17 %) were identified as challenges confronting rural women entrepreneurs. The study concludes that the rural women entrepreneurs training needs include record keeping and how to access capital, therefore government and other stakeholders should encourage and empower the respondents by mounting entrepreneurial training in the areas of identified training needs.

Keywords: Training needs, rural women entrepreneurs, non-farm enterprise