MOTIVATIONAL INITIATIVES NEEDED BY GRADUATES OF SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE FOR ENTRY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN BIOGAS PRODUCTION IN BENUE STATE, FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study identified motivational initiatives needed by graduates of schools of agriculture for entry into biogas production in Benue State, for national development. The study was carried out in Benue state. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Survey research design was used for the study. The entire population of 215 was studied. A 35-item structured questionnaire named motivational initiatives of Biogas Production Questionnaire (MIBPQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and a coefficient of 0.79 was obtained. All the administered copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t – test. It was found out that graduates of schools of agriculture needed 8 motivational initiatives to enter into biogas production, encounter 17 challenges for entry into biogas production and require 10 initiatives for sustainability in biogas production. It was therefore recommended that the graduates should submit proposals on biogas production to the ministry of agriculture for approval for loan and subsidy to biogas producers, extension agents should regularly organize seminars and workshops for retraining of graduates to improve their technical efficiency, government should reduce taxes on production farms,  government should implement policies that will encourage and support biogas production for maximum utilization of the benefits for national development.