BASIC ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE PIG FARMING ENTERPRISE: THE CASE OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Pig farming has the potential to lift many rural households out of poverty and enhance the consumption of animal protein. This study investigated the basic entrepreneurial skills required for sustainable pig farming in Osun State, Nigeria. It specifically described respondents’ personal and socio-economic characteristics, investigated their entrepreneurial skills levels, examined their perception towards pig farming, and identified the constraints limiting their entrepreneurial capabilities. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 165 respondents for the study, and an interview schedule was used to collect relevant data. Data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics, including means, standard deviation, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. The results revealed that the mean age of respondents was 43 ± 10.90 years, while their mean annual income from pig farming was ₦495,151 ± ₦592,474. The majority (93.9%) of the respondents possessed high entrepreneurial skills in pig farming. The majority (87%) had a positive perception towards pig farming as an enterprise, while limited access to credit (75.8%) and risk of disease outbreaks (69.7%) were among the significant constraints affecting their entrepreneurial capabilities. At p ≤ 0.01, age (r = 0.194), family size (r = 0.196), and herd size (r = 0.316) had positive and significant relationships with the entrepreneurial skills of respondents. The study concluded that most of the respondents possessed several entrepreneurial skills required for a successful and sustainable pig farming enterprise despite the enterprise's constraints. It recommended the provision of low-interest loan schemes, adequate veterinary services, and basic infrastructural facilities by relevant agencies.