Skills Required by Retirees in Poultry Production for Improved Livelihood in Oju L.G. A, Benue State

The study investigates skills required by retirees in poultry production for improved livelihood in Oju L.G. A, Benue State. The study adopted a survey research design. Three objectives, three research questions and one hypothesis was used for the study. The population for the study is 69 comprises of 20 Agricultural extension agents and 49 retirees. There was no sampling because the researcher was able to manage the entire population hence, a census survey. The instruments for data collection were a structured questionnaire titled: Skills Required by Retirees in Poultry Production Questionnaire (SRBRIPPQ). The questionnaire was face and content validated by three experts two from the Department of Agricultural Education and one from the department of Animal Production, Joseph Sarwaun Tarka University, Makurdi. To ascertain the reliability of the instruments, it was trial-tested using 7 Agricultural Extension Agents and 10 Poultry farmers (Retirees) in Makurdi, Local Government Area. Completed copies of the instrument were retrieved and test using Cronbach Alpha reliability method which give a coefficient of 0.91 indicating that the instruments were reliable. 20 copies of the questionnaire were administer to the extension agents and 49 copies of the questionnaire to the poultry farmers (retirees) and were retrieved immediately after completing the questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that 3.39 of the Retirees required skills in breeding, 3.33 required skills in feeding while3.30 required skills in marketing of poultry product for improved livelihood in Oju, Benue State. However, poultry production in Oju has not been giving needed attention despite the fact that it is very economical and easy to raise. Based on the findings of the study it was therefore recommended that the skills identify in feeding of poultry production should be incorporated into the programme of skills acquisition centres for used to trained and retraining of Retirees for improved livelihood in the area. Also stakeholder in the sector should also assist by organizing workshop for Retirees in breeding of poultry as this would help provide additional income for them.