Assessment of rural youths involvement in Agricultural activities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study analysed the rural youths’ involvement in agricultural activities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used for the study. First Stage involved selection of three agricultural zones in the state. Second stage involved random selection of two Local Government Areas from each zone to give a total of six LGAs. In the third stage, 10% of the villages were randomly sampled. A total of 554 respondents out of 2,770 (sampling frame) were used for this study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regression analyses. The result reveals that farmers mean age was 40 years, 88.5% were single, 83% had formal education, 95.7% were farmers with mean farming experience of 20 years and 87% of them did not owned land. Youth perceived farming as stressful (X̅ = 4.06), agriculture is meant for aged (X̅ = 3.60) and agriculture should be practiced by less privilege (X̅ = 3.44). The result of logit regression analysis showed that there was statistically significant between age, household size, farming experience, access to credits, awareness to agriculture; (z=-1.93; P>0.010); (z= 1.88; P>0.010); (z= 5.91; P>0.001); (z=1.86; P>0.010); (z=2.96; P>0.05) and youths involvement in agricultural activities, respectively. The attitudinal disposition of youth towards agricultural activities is energy sapping (X=4.06). Major constraints faced by the farmers were; in adequate initial capital (X̅ = 2.35), youths were considered irrational to make decision (X̅ = 2.22) drudgery associated with farming (X̅ = 2.14). The study concludes that youths were actively involved in agricultural activities. Youths should be given the necessary orientation and input support for sustainable agricultural growth.