Determinants and Impact of Youth Involvement in Agricultural Sector: Evidence from Young Farmers Beneficiaries of PEA-Youth and PCP AFOP Public Programs Living in Central and Littoral Regions of Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose: Agriculture continue to be an important sector for African countries’ development and for Cameroon development in particular. This study aimed at investigating determinants of youths’ involvement in agriculture and their impact on agriculture income for different entry mode.
 Methodology: The study used both qualitative and quantitative data from young farmers’ beneficiaries of PEA-Youth and PCP AFOP public programs living in Central and Coastal Regions in Cameroon.
 Findings: The study found out that age, number of dependent children, matrimonial status, presence of parents in agriculture, education, distance between farm and market, migrate from urban to rural before and the presence of public program for integration in agriculture are keys determinants of the different involvement ways in agriculture in Cameroon. Besides, qualitative analysis shows that farmers declare more pull or positive factors that have led them to entry into agriculture and amongst these factors the reasons such as profitability and autonomy of food security for the family are the most common.
 Conclusion: It is more profitable for farmers to adopt agriculture by integration as first work or by mobility, rather than by diversification.
 Recommendation: Public programs should promote agriculture by integration as first work or by mobility and target that kind of profile during the selection process of youth.