ANALYSIS OF RURAL YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN CHIKUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed rural youth participation in agricultural activities in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling techniques was used to select 60 youth in the study area and data was obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed 48% of the respondent fall within the age limit of 20-25 and 12% fall within 15-19 years. The study also revealed that 52% of the respondents were married and 33% had a household size of 2-5 people and majority (63%) attended secondary school. About 48% of the respondent had 0.1-3 hectares of land. Majority (65%) had contact with extension agent and 68% are member of different cooperative groups. Majority of the youths interviewed participated in all the farm activities from land clearing to harvesting. The result from the logit regression revealed that household size has a positive relationship and significant at 0.1%, age and years of experience were also significant 0.1% but negatively influenced youth participation. Farm size and education level were also significant and positively influence participation at 0.5% level. The major constraints affecting youth participation were inadequate capital, unaffordable input, inadequate storage facilities and inadequate modern tools. The study concluded that despite the constraints affecting youth in the study area, they still put more effort and participated in the farming activities in the study area. The study recommended adequate credit facilities, modern tools and farm inputs such as fertilizer, improved seeds and agro-chemicals should be made available at the right time and at subsidized rate.