Attitude of Rural Youths towards Family Farming in Dass, Bauchi State, Nigeria and the Implications for Policy

Abstract

This study examined the characteristics and attitude of rural youths towards family farming in Dass Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi State, Nigeria. Multistage and systematic sampling were used to select 120 rural youths in farm families as respondents. Data was collected from them with help of structured interview schedules. Attitude was measured with a 5-point Likert type scale, while the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings show that more than half of the respondents’ (56 %) were in their twenties (mode = 21-24 yrs). Majority were males (88 %), single (51 %), literate (99 %) and had rural background (94 %). Most of them participate in family farming (96.0 %), but in different ways (mode = labour donation), and consider farming as major occupation (71 %). A good number (46.7 %) had farming knowledge and experience spanning up to 10 years (mode = 5-10 years), or more (30.8 %), which most of them (78 %) said was learned through parents (non-formal sources). Similarly a large proportion (69 %) participates in grassroots groups and associations. It was found that about 16.0 percent of them had favourable, while 63.0 % and 22.0 % respectively, had a moderately favourable and unfavourable attitudes towards family farming. Their positive disposition towards farming was influenced by these demographic cultural variables or assets, in association with the natural endowments of the study area. The Dass scenario was found to be unique and amenable to sustainable agricultural and community development. A key policy implication of the situation was the need to harness these assets of the youths’ towards empowering them, through appropriate strategies, to remain attracted to/and take up farming as a full time employment.

Key words: attitude, youths, family farming, Nigeria