Abstract:
Youth's involvement in agriculture is one of the robust means of reducing the preponderance of
ageing farm population and alarming youth's unemployment rate. Dearth of information on
youth's level of involvement in agriculture has also continued to be a serious concern. The study
determined youth's level of involvement in agriculture in Kogi State. Rural youths in Kogi State
formed the population of the study. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting
120 respondents. Information on respondent's personal characteristics, involvement in
agricultural activities, areas of involvement, benefits derived and constraints to involvement was
collected using structured interview schedule. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used for
data analysis. Most respondents (49.2%) were averagely 23 years, single (85.0%), males
(57.5%), attended secondary school (70.8%) and part-time farmers (85.0%) with a mean farm
size of two hectares (96.0%). Also 52.5% were Muslims and 65.8% had average family size of 6
persons. Processing/storage (x =.61), burning of rubbish (x = .55), planting (x = .52) ranked 1st
,
2
nd and 3rd while feeding (x =.81), pen cleaning (x =.83), breeding (x =.29)1st, 2nd and 3rd among
crops and animal husbandry activities respectively. Maize (x = .82), sesame (x = .70), vegetable
(x = .63), cassava (x = .62) ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th while poultry birds (x = .94), goat (x =.70),
sheep (x =.53), duck (x =.18) ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th among crops and animals produced
respectively. Food security and manure (x = 2.55), income (x =2.53) and improved nutrition
(x =2.40) were major from crop production while manure (x =2.52), source of meat (x =2.49),
source of income (x =2.38) and improved nutrition (x =2.03 were benefits derived from animals
animal husbandry. Finance (x =1.93), labour cost ((x =1.92), inadequate processing facilities
and bad road (x =1.87) constituted major constraints. Significant relationship existed between
respondent's mode of involvement (X*2=6.349), gender (X*2=14.543) and their level of involvement |
Cite this Article: [O. T, Ikwuakam, Dr., and Iyela A, Dr. "YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA." International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research 2.3 (2017): 2695-708.] |
International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
