Youth participation in Agroforestry practices in Nigeria: Problems and prospects

Abstract

This paper examines the various types of Agroforestry systems that can be practiced by the youth in Nigeria. However, the paper  pinpointed lack of access to knowledge, information and education, poor socio-cultural orientation towards agroforestry technology,  limited access to land, lack of capital and financial support as well as poor culture of entrepreneurship as the major problems and challenges that have made the youths to be unable to participate in agroforestry sector as effectively as supposed in Nigeria. Meanwhile, in exploiting the full potential of Agroforestry for youth participation in Nigeria, a range of prospects are inherent which include: (i)  increased variety of food (ii) increased variety of farm products (iii) Creating more employment  opportunities to absorb an ever increasing labour force and a lot more. The paper concludes on the premise that Nigeria has a great prospect in making the agroforestry sector’s ample potential to provide income-generating opportunities for youth if some problems hindering the youth participation are overcome.