Knowledge Uptake of Stakeholders in Fruit Tree Production Training in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study assessed the knowledge uptake of stakeholders in fruit tree production training in Ibadan, Oyo State. A two-day training was organized for 50 beneficiaries in nursery practices, orchard establishment, and plantain/banana and citrus management. A pre-and post-assessment of the participants to determine knowledge uptake was carried out with a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, and t-test. Results reveal that pre-and post-assessment mean scores of training modules taught were: rapid multiplication techniques of plantain/banana (0.74 and 7.14), nursery practices of citrus (0.56 and 15.38), citrus establishment and management (0.08 and 3.84), and economics of production (0.16 and 1.54), respectively. There was a significant difference in the post-evaluation and pre-evaluation scores (t=20.69, p=0.000), depicting the increase in knowledge of participants in the two-day training. The study concluded that the training effectively strengthened the capacity of beneficiaries. Thus, it is recommended that specialized and fully sponsored horticultural training packages be provided by the Federal Government for interested stakeholders for economic diversification and livelihood sustainability.