Abstract:
Specifically, the study was conducted to identify entry-level skills needed in poultry production by senior secondary school final year students of Agricultural Science in Aguata Agricultural zone of Anambra State. The study adopted a survey research design. The population for the study consisted of 60 senior secondary school Teachers of Agricultural Science, 20 Extension Agents and 20 certified poultry farmers drawn from the three agricultural zone of Aguata, Anambra State. A four-point response scale made up of 74 structured questionnaire items was used for data collection. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.82 using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test, while the instrument was face validated by five experts. Four research questions and four research hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. Frequencies and means were employed to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistic was used to test the hypotheses. The major findings of the study indicated that 14 entry-level skills were needed in poultry house management, 20 entry-level skills in poultry feeding, 20 in poultry health care, and 20 entry-level skills in marketing of poultry products. The result of null hypotheses tested revealed that there was no significant difference in the mean responses of the three groups of respondents on entry-level skills needed in poultry house management, poultry feeding, poultry health care and marketing of poultry products. It was recommended that the skills identified could be packaged and integrated into the state’s skill acquisition centers by the government for the training of unemployed secondary school graduates and other interested vibrant, creative youths for gainful employment into poultry production enterprises for a functional and meaningful living.
