Determinants of Profitability and Problems Encountered by Women Palm Oil Processors in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria

Aims: The study described the socio-economic characteristics, examined the determinants of profitability and identified the problems encountered by respondents during palm oil processing.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Ogo- Oluwa, Surulere and Oriire Local Government Areas, Ogbomoso agricultural zone, Oyo State, Nigeria between March 2016 and June, 2016.

Methodology: A multistage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents from Ogo-Oluwa, Surulere and Oriire Local Government Areas in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone. Structured questionnaire coupled with interview schedule were used to elicit data. Analytical tools were descriptive statistics and linear regression.

Results: The findings showed that 69.16% of the respondents fell within 20-50 years, about 87.5% were married and 72.50% had formal education. About 83.00% had their source of capital from personal savings and 96.66% engaged in other occupation. Selected variables determined profitability as shown by regression analysis.

Conclusion: Highest qualification, membership of association, ownership of oil palm plantation and quantity of palm oil produced determined profitability while water scarcity, transportation, finance and market instability were the problems faced by respondents.