Promoting Agripreneurship as a Means of Employment in Ogun State

Abstract

The integration of entrepreneurship into Nigeria's agricultural sector presents a promising avenue for addressing the country's persistent youth unemployment and food insecurity challenges. This study explores agripreneurship as a viable means of employment in Ogun State, focusing on various agripreneurship options, their perceived viability, and their potential to foster economic sustainability. A survey of 1,200 farm owners and workers randomly selected across diverse agriculture value chain in the three senatorial district of Ogun State was conducted. Data obtained were analysed with descriptive statistics and the hypothesis were tested with logistics regression analysis of the specified logit model. The results revealed that production-related activities, particularly poultry, livestock farming, and fishery, are perceived as the most viable agripreneurship options. However, input supply and support services require further development to enhance their attractiveness and viability. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to promote agripreneurship, particularly in underdeveloped areas, to maximize its potential for job creation and economic growth. However, challenges such as access to land, capital, and technology persist, hindering the full adoption of agripreneurship. The study concludes that promoting agripreneurship through targeted interventions could create sustainable employment opportunities for Nigerian youths, enhance agricultural productivity, and contribute to broader economic growth. The results also highlight the need for further development in areas like input supply and support services to make them more attractive to potential agripreneurs.