Rural Women Use of Improved Shea butter Processing Technologies in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed the usage of improved Shea butter processing technology among rural women in kwara State. Specifically, the study focused on the socio economic characteristics of rural women in the study area, their access to information about Shea butter processing technology, knowledge level of respondents on the usage of the improved processing technology which comprises of the grinder (crusher), corn mil, kneader, and bridge press and also constraints experienced by the respondents in the usage of the improved processing technology. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. The results show that Shea butter processing is mostly carried out by married women and had primary school education. Processors hardly seek information to improve their activity. Result urther revealed low knowledge on the use of improved processing technologies. Constraints faced by processors on the use of these improved technologies include high cost of equipment and inadequate technical know -how. This paper is optimistic that Shea butter has a lot of potentials but is still underutilized and should be vitalised by government and NGO as a way of alleviating poverty among rural women.

Key words: Processing technology, Shea butter, rural women