value addition initiatives of women in processing dairy products in kwara state, nigeria

This study assessed the value addition employed in processing of dairy products in ilorin west local government kwara state, nigeria. two-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 114 respondents from wara, ogundele, and egbejila communities. interview schedule was used to collect data from respondents. descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyse data. the study shows that majority of the respondents were had no formal education (71.9%), average cattle owned by respondents was 12 cattle, motivated by family tradition (59.6%), all (100%) were aware of value addition in dairy products, wara/cheese (65.8%), nunu (34.2%), may-shanu (21.9%), washigeri (20.2%), fura de nunu (18.4%), and kindirimu (10.5%) were the valued added products produced among dairy processors in the study area. the major challenges faced by processors include lack of access to modern equipment (mean= 2.33), poor asses to capital (mean=2.07), lack of storage facilities (mean=1.58) and lack of knowledge (mean=1.43) on value addition. it can be concluded that employed several value addition initiatives to product different kinds of dairy products. government should provide adequate modern equipment which will enhance easy production on of dairy products to improve the processors standard of living.