Comparative Analysis of Shea-butter Production Techniques Used among Women Processors in Baruten and Ilorin-South Areas, Kwara State, Nigeria

The study compared the shea-butter production techniques used among women processors in Baruten and Ilorin-South Local Government Areas of Kwara State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to elicit information from 120 respondents through a structured interview schedule with questionnaire. Data were analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age of the respondents in Baruten and Ilorin-South were 38.4years and 37.9 years respectively. Some 58.0% and 50.3% of the respondents had no formal education in Baruten and Ilorin-South respectively. Findings revealed that about 76.7% and 95.0% of respondents in Baruten and Ilorin-South respectively used traditional method, 16.7% and 5.0% of respondents in Baruten and Ilorin-South respectively used modern method while 6.6% of respondents in Baruten and none in Ilorin-South used both methods. However, both respondents in Baruten (63.3%) and Ilorin-South (66.7%) considered modern method as the best shear butter processing technique that is efficient and reduces drudgery. Also, majority (68.3) of respondents in Baruten LGA earned above N20,000 monthly while 56.7% of respondents in Ilorin-South earned less. Further results revealed that inadequate credit facilities were the major constraint of the processors in Baruten and Ilorin-South. It was concluded that the quantity of Shea butter produce in Baruten was more than their counterparts in Ilorin-South and this may be due to abundant of Shea nuts in Baruten. It is recommended that modern techniques of Shea butter processing should be encouraged and planting of more Shea tree is practiced among the processors and thus increasing Shea butter production.