ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS METHODS OF PROCESSING SHEA BUTTER AMONG WOMEN IN ILORIN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the indigenous methods of processing shea butter among women in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. The study made use of well-structured questionnaire to collect data from 180 respondents by means of four-stage random sampling technique. Analytical tools used include frequency, percentage and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Findings showed that the majority of respondents had no formal education (73.3%), were middle aged (52.2%), and married (81.1%). The indigenous processing techniques commonly used by the respondents include: picking/harvesting of fruits, washing of fruits, de-pulping, drying, seed selection, seed cracking, roasting of kernels, milling of kernels, boiling of ground kernels, kneading, mixing, filtration, solidification and packaging. The majority (75%) of sources for information on indigenous shea butter processing came from family members. Factors limiting the majority of respondents were: inadequate water supply (95%), inadequate processing equipment (86.1%) and inadequate credit facilities (81.7%). Correlation analysis results revealed that age (-0.153, p 0.05) and the years of experience (-0.270, p 0.01) of respondents showed a significant relationship with the indigenous techniques of processing shea butter. It was concluded that indigenous methods of processing shea butter are widespread among respondents, knowledge is acquired through family members and that they are faced with several challenges. Among others, the study recommends the need for extension agents to be posted to rural areas to educate rural women and build on their indigenous knowledge of processing shea butter in order to produce high quality butter.