Coping mechanisms of some blind trainees engaging in agricultural rehabilitation in a Nigerian training centre for the blind.

This study was conducted to assess the coping mechanisms of some blind trainees engaged in agricultural activities at the Nigeria Training Centre for the Blind, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. The participants in this study were blind trainees and agricultural inspectors. Focus group discussions were used to elicit their feelings concerning their coping mechanisms with agricultural activities at the centre. In addition, a practical session, and participatory observation, was carried out to examine the trainees and their reactions to the agricultural training programmes. Findings revealed that the blind trainees could effectively undertake farming activities despite their disability. It was, however, noted that the facilities for agricultural training programme in the centre are not inadequate. Moreover, the study further discovered that the number of blind persons seeking agricultural training was far less than the expected intake for the centre. There were also more male than female trainees in the centre. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to improve the farming training programme for blind trainees at the centre. More facilities should be provided and efforts made to encourage more blind persons to use the centre. This will discourage begging and dependence, activities often engaged in by blind persons who have not been rehabilitated.