Abstract

The study investigated entrepreneurial skills required by small-scale poultry farmers in Orumba North and South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Four research questions were developed and hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance. Twenty nine (29) structured questionnaire items were developed and face validated by three experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach Alpha statistics and Alpha co-efficient of 0.78 was obtained. The questionnaire was administered on 86 respondents made up of 58 registered small scale poultry farmers and 28 extension agents. The entire 86 copies administered were retrieved and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies. In addition, Chi-Square and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical tools were adopted to test the validity or otherwise of the null hypotheses against the alternative hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that all the identified twenty nine (29) entrepreneurial skill items in poultry production were required by small-scale poultry farmers for increase productivity. It was therefore recommended that the identified skills be packaged and used to train all poultry farmers in the state for sustainable production of poultry products.  Also effort should be made by government to establish and equip skill acquisition and training centers to enhance the effectiveness of small scale poultry farmers.

Key words: Entrepreneurship, skill, small-scale farmers, poultry production.