Young Farmers Research Articles

IMPROVING THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE SKILLS OF YOUNG OKIAGARU FARMERS THROUGH HYBRID LEARNING METHOD FOR PREPARATION FOR AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIP TO JAPAN IN CIPUTRI VILLAGE

This community service program aims to enhance the language and cultural understanding of Okiagaru Farm’s young farmers, specifically through Japanese language training and Indonesian-Japanese cultural diplomacy. The training utilizes hybrid learning, combining synchronous Zoom sessions for real-time learning and asynchronous Google Classroom for independent study. By integrating tools like Canva for educational material design and utilizing Zoom for interactive lessons, the program has improved participants’ Japanese proficiency. Before training, students had minimal skills in grammar (10%), listening (15%), reading (5%), and conversation (10%). Post-training, there were significant improvements: grammar (75%), listening (80%), reading (70%), and speaking (80%). These improvements reflect not only the enhancement of language skills but also a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. This initiative has prepared participants for future internships in Japan and facilitated cultural exchange between Indonesia and Japan, fostering better diplomatic ties.

Facilitating generational renewal in rural areas by responding to young farmers’ voices: Echoes from the Greek territory

The proper functioning and future of rural areas and communities are strictly tied to young people’s willingness to be engaged in the farming profession, as farming is an important recourse for vocational rehabilitation of the rural population. The agricultural sector acts as a financial injection to the rural economy and society. In this context, one of the most well devised agricultural policies is young farmers’ schemes, aiming at generational renewal in EU rural areas. Since young farmers are the people who directly receive the induced effects of these policies, policy makers have to listen carefully to what “message” young farmers can convey. Nevertheless, after almost four decades of implementing young farmers’ schemes, there is still limited information regarding their attitudes, beliefs and perceptions towards the form of the related policy schemes. Using this as a starting point, the present study attempts to identify young farmers’ attitudes and beliefs towards the current young farmers’ scheme of the Rural Development Program (RDP) with overarching scope to identify the needs of young farmers better and thus inform policy makers about the appropriate policy that should be put forward. Results indicate that the current young farmers’ scheme acts as a helpful instrument for a considerable percentage of young farmers. Nevertheless, further streamlining is required to provide incentives, especially to new entrants, to be engaged in the farming profession. Effective policy interventions that will be in line with the actual needs of young farmers could contribute to the direction of the enhancement of the vitality and resilience of the rural systems, and also act towards the prevention of the abandonment process, providing vibrance in rural areas and benefits for the whole economy and society, as well as the ecosystems.

YOUNG FARMERS, SMALL FARMS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNDER THE NEW EUROPEAN UNION GREEN DEAL

The European Union in recent years has adopted and implemented a new policy, the European Green Deal, which aspires to be a comprehensive plan to make the EU economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities. At the core of this strategy, is agriculture, as it both contributes to and is affected by climate change. This paper investigates the opportunities and challenges facing young farmers, small farms, and agricultural entrepreneurship under the framework of the Green Deal. Especially, it explores how the Green Deal's goals of climate neutrality, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable food systems impact young farmers, small farms and agricultural entrepreneurship, while identifying ways in which they can align their practices with this new policy framework. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to support young farmers and small-scale agricultural entrepreneurs in achieving sustainability while enhancing their economic viability.

Challenges and opportunities for young farmers in the implementation of the Rural Development Program 2014–2020 of the Republic of Croatia

Abstract Today, all sectors of the economy are confronted with the problem of demographic renewal. The low number of young farmers and the lack of development opportunities for them pose major challenges for the agricultural sector. This study focuses on the Rural Development Program (RDP) 2014–2020 of the Republic of Croatia, which provided many opportunities for young farmers through its measures. The study is based on a qualitative approach that includes two research methods to identify the benefits and limitations of the RDP measures as well as the challenges that Croatian young farmers still face after the implementation of the Program. The first involved the descriptive analysis of secondary data, while the second was based on the collection of primary data using the interview method. Eight semi-structured interviews (N = 8) were conducted with farmers aged 18–41 years in all four Croatian NUTS2 regions. In almost all 20 Croatian counties, the number of young farm owners has increased and the level of education acquired has also increased accordingly, with a decrease in the number of uneducated and those with only primary education and the largest increase in those with secondary education. The interviews revealed that all respondents see similar benefits in continuing farming as a profession: they are their own boss and have strong work motivation and job satisfaction. However, they also mention similar problems that persist: financial insecurity, insufficient labor, high dependence on climate change, and problems related to land.

Pelatihan Inovasi Trichokompos Limbah Kulit Kopi (TRICHOLIKO) Berbasis Agropreneurship bagi Petani Muda Enrekang

This community service programme aims to increase the knowledge and skills of young farmers in Enrekang in processing Trichocompost from coffee skin waste (Tricholiko) as organic fertilizer. The programme involved the Tunas Muda Kreatif Farmer Group located in Salowo Hamlet, Curio Village, Curio Sub-district, Enrekang Regency, South Sulawesi. Although the group already had products such as plant seeds, Sinar Benteng Arabica coffee, and Trichokompos, they faced various challenges in business development, including: a) lack of socialization on the use of Tricholiko in coffee and pepper intercropping systems, b) absence of demo plots to test the effectiveness of Trichokompos on pepper plants, and c) limited knowledge and skills in entrepreneurial management innovation and product marketing. The methods used in this programme included training and mentoring in the Trichokompos production process, with stages including: 1) entrepreneurship training and workshop, 2) training on Trichoderma sp. propagation and Tricholiko production, 3) making demo plot of Trichocompost application, and 4) assistance in product packaging. Evaluation was conducted using pre-test and post-test questionnaires and direct observation in the process of making Trichocompost. Data were analyzed descriptively to assess the improvement of knowledge and skills. The results of the service showed a significant increase in the knowledge and skills of young farmers in the production of Trichocompost, as well as an increase in partner independence in producing Tricholiko with greater yield and quality than before.

The Setting-Up Measure to Support Generational Renewal in Agriculture: The Italian Experience

Since the 1970s, the issue of ageing farmers and generational renewal in agriculture has consistently attracted the attention of policymakers. However, despite successive reforms of the European Union Structural Funds, efforts to encourage young people to enter the agricultural sector remain largely focused on agricultural and rural policies, specifically on the First Settlement scheme. This paper highlights the role of the European Union’s rural development policy in supporting and encouraging generational renewal in agriculture. A qualitative analysis of the Italian case examining some of the demographic changes that have occurred within the agricultural system at the regional level has been conducted. The analysis is based on the comparison of policy implementations in different programming periods. Using data from the General Censuses of Agriculture and the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency—supplemented by the Annual Implementation Reports of the Italian Rural Development Programmes—the research traces the evolution of initiatives supporting young farmers. The main findings reveal a notable decline in the number of young people in the primary sector over the last decade, together with an ageing population of agricultural farmers. Measures to support young farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy appear to be ineffective in countering the ageing trend. There is scope for integrated policies to enhance the attractiveness and profitability of rural areas and to ensure long-term sustainable generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

Factors that influence the aspirations of village youth as determinants of agribusiness sustainability in Deli Serdang Regency

Abstract The big issue of agricultural sustainability lies in the regeneration (cast change) of farmers to young farmers. Meanwhile, the biggest obstacle to farmer regeneration is the weak aspirations, which of course poses a serious threat to the sustainability of food availability. The aim of this research is to analyze the aspirations of village youth towards agribusiness, analyze the factors that influence the aspirations of village youth towards agribusiness. Locations were selected using the Multi-Stage Purposive Sampling Method. Four sub-districts in Deli Serdang Regency were selected based on their location which borders the Medan City area in the north, east, south, and west, respectively, Hamparan Perak, Tanjung Morawa, Deli Tua and Sunggal. From each of the selected sub-districts, the four largest rice producing villages were identified, and a total of 130 village youth were selected as samples using Accidental Sampling Method. The analytical method used is the Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, with ordinal data intervalization using the Successive Interval Method. The research results show that generally village youth (51,6%) from childhood have aspiration to work in agribusiness; the variables that influence the aspirations of village youth as determinants of agribusiness sustainability are parental ambition, social expectations, birth order and personal interests.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Adoption of Mobile Phone Applications for Improved Small-scale Commercial Agriculture in Makonde District, Zimbabwe

Mobile applications have provided a new way for agricultural transformation. This is set to revolutionise the agriculture sector with easy access to vital agricultural information on weather, market trends, pest, and disease management, and best agriculture practices to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability. However, there is a dearth of studies on the adoption of mobile applications in agriculture. It was important for this study to understand the impact of farmers’ demographic characteristics on the adoption of mobile applications in small-scale commercial agriculture. The study applied the quantitative research approach, a sample size of 213 small-scale commercial farmers, a descriptive cross-sectional research design, and the structured household questionnaire survey instrument, purposive random and stratified sampling techniques to collect primary data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed a higher adoption rate of mobile applications among young farmers than old farmers. The study indicated that female small-scale commercial farmers adopted mobile applications than male farmers. The study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were literate. Further, the study highlighted that married farmers exhibited a greater tendency to adopt mobile applications than single, divorced, separated, and widowed. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation. The study argued that young farmers, female farmers, educated farmers, married farmers, and farming as a primary occupation positively influenced the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture. The study recommends that policymakers and implementers should consider socio-demographic characteristics as critical determinants of the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture to tailor strategies that promote the adoption of mobile applications based on different farmer age groups

Sosialisasi Manajemen Kesehatan Kambing Perah serta Pengaruhnya terhadap Kualitas Susu pada Peternak Kambing Perah di Kecamatan Ampelgading dan Tirtoyudo Kabupaten Malang

Goat's milk is a food of animal origin that is easily damaged and requires handling after the milking process. Ampelgading and Tirtoyudo sub-districts are areas in Malang Regency where some of the population are dairy goat breeders. This community service aims to provide socialization and education on good animal health management so that it can improve the quality of goat milk. The activity began with collecting farmer data and analyzing the situation of dairy goat farming. The socialization method was carried out by conducting focus group discussions about knowledge of animal health management and checking the quality of goat milk. Milk composition testing uses Lactoscan, while organoleptic testing is based on Indonesian National Standard 01-2346-2006 concerning organoleptic and sensory testing instructions. The results of community service show that the quality of dairy goat milk in Ampelgading and Tirtoyudo Districts is premium based on the Thailand Agriculture Standard 2008. The results of the organoleptic test of goat milk have remained the same based on SNI 3141-1-2011 regarding the quality of fresh milk. The results of this goat milk quality test can be used as a basis for farmers to improve livestock management and milking. Through this activity, farmers can implement good livestock health management so that the quality of goat milk and the selling price increase. This activity will encourage young farmers to be more interested in becoming dairy goat breeders who have high economic prospects and contribute to increasing goat milk productivity. Apart from that, this activity can improve the welfare of farmers by improving the quality of goat milk with higher selling power.

Agricultural Strategies of Young Farmers on Small-Scale Land in Sriharjo, Bantul

Abstract: The agricultural situation in the Special Region of Yogyakarta is becoming increasingly concerning. The number of farmers is declining, and young people are showing less interest in agriculture. This has led to problems with production output and a food security crisis. A solution to these challenges is to empower youth to engage in farming. The aim of this study is to identify groups of young farmers and the efforts made to address current challenges. The unit of analysis in this study is youth groups involved in farming activities on limited land. The research was conducted with a youth farming group called Taruna Tani Hijaunya Cinta in Sriharjo Village, Bantul. A case study design was employed, using in-depth interviews conducted both in person and via telephone. The research was carried out from January to June 2022, with limited observations and interviews due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To supplement the data, document and photo collection from the farmer group was also conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze various data sources. The findings of this study indicate that the majority of the group's members are children of farmers aged 17-35, with educational backgrounds ranging from secondary school to university students. The results show that the use of technology in farming, the development of social media for marketing, and the creation of agro-tourism have enhanced the competitiveness of young people in the agricultural sector, created new business opportunities, and stimulated local economic growth. For long-term sustainability, it is recommended that the government and educational institutions strengthen training and education programs for youth to enable them to continue innovating and adapting to market changes. Keywords: Limited Land Agriculture, Young Farmers, Youth

Giant Facial Tumor in Rosacea: A Case Report

Introduction: Rosacea is a centrofacial dermatosis with numerous triggers, leading to neurovascular dysregulation. Phymatous rosacea results from sebaceous hyperplasia and fibrosis, clinically presenting as irregular hypertrophy of the affected area. Medical therapies, such as photoprotection, anti-inflammatory antibiotics, and retinoids, provide suboptimal benefits in cases of phymatous rosacea. This limitation necessitates the use of surgical modalities like ablative lasers, electrosurgery, or plastic reconstruction for effective treatment. Here, we report a case of phymatous rosacea with multiple phymas over the nose, eyelids, forehead, chin, ears, and cheeks, creating a lion-like facial appearance (leonine facies) due to diffuse facial nodularity. The condition was clinically confounded with leprosy, leishmaniasis, lymphoma, and scleromyxedema. Additionally, the zygophyma (cheek) presented as a giant pedunculated tumor, which is rarely reported. It was mistaken for a soft tissue tumor, posing a diagnostic challenge. Plastic surgical excision and reconstruction proved therapeutic, and microscopic examination played a pivotal role in solving the diagnostic enigma. Case Presentation: A young male farmer with recurrent photo-exacerbated centrofacial lesions, clinically diagnosed as rosacea, later developed diffuse facial nodularity resembling leonine facies. The appearance of a progressively enlarging, globose, pedunculated tumor on his right cheek further complicated the diagnosis. Although phymatous rosacea was the leading clinical suspicion, histological analysis was deemed necessary to distinguish the combination of leonine facies and the pendulous mass from other serious conditions. Leprosy, leishmaniasis, lymphoma, and scleromyxedema are among the many causes of leonine facies, while soft tissue tumors like lipoma, fibroma, and neurofibroma can present with pedunculated morphology. The pendulous mass was surgically excised and sent for microscopic analysis, which confirmed the diagnosis of granulomatous rosacea. Cold knife excision was preferred over lasers and radiosurgery to preserve tissue architecture for histological analysis. Continued medical therapy and photoprotection contributed to further clinical regression. Conclusions: Pedunculated phymatous rosacea, mimicking a soft tissue tumor, requires histopathological distinction from more serious conditions. Cold knife plastic surgery, which preserves tissue architecture for histopathological studies, should be the recommended surgical treatment in such cases. Additionally, avoiding triggers and adhering to medical therapy are essential for better aesthetic outcomes.

Clinical features of chronic tibial osteomyelitis: a single-center retrospective study of 282 cases in Xinjiang, China.

Chronic osteomyelitis is a highly prevalent and severe orthopaedic complication, representing a critical unresolved issue. The clinical symptoms of osteomyelitis are influenced by various factors, including geography, lifestyle, and pre-existing medical conditions.This study aims to provide theoretical basis for treatment and prevention of osteomyelitis by investigating and analyzing clinical features and pathogen distribution among 282 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis in xinjiang. A total of 282 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All data were collected from electronic medical record (EMR) system including demographics, etiology, risk factors, osteomyelitis location and clinical classification. Farmers, students, unemployed and retirees accounted for a relatively large proportion of the 282 patients. There were 233 males and 49 females with a gender ratio of 4.75:1. The average age was 40.21 ± 15.68 years and was mainly concentrated in 41-50 years, specifically, the mean age of females was slightly older than that of males. Education level was mostly primary and secondary school education, and illiteracy. Risk factors of chronic tibial osteomyelitis included history of smoking and drinking, history of multiple repeated surgeries, and impaired immunity. Frequent clinical symptoms were in the order of pain, local swelling, pus discharge and skin ulceration. Among all inflammatory markers, proportion of positive results were 30.85%, 59.93% and 53.90% for white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), respectively. Positive rate of pathogenic microorganism culture was low and the three most common bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The most frequent site of infection was middle tibia. According to Cierny-Mader osteomyelitis classification, the most common types were type IIIA, IVA and IIA. Number of visits due to chronic osteomyelitis increased year by year, with young and middle-aged male farmers and low education level as the main groups. Smoking and drinking were two considerable risk factors that should be attached to a great importance. No significant increase was found in inflammatory markers and lower positive rate of pathogenic microorganism culture was observed. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were common and S. aureus remained the most frequent pathogen. Elevated ESR had certain diagnostic value for osteomyelitis. Type III and type IV osteomyelitis accounted for a large proportion which posed great challenges for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Perceptions of The Health Risks of Local Poultry Farming and The Behaviour Of Urban and Peri-Urban Populations in The Town of Korhogo (Côte d'Ivoire).

Poultry farming plays an important nutritional, economic and socio-cultural role in developing countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the perceptions of health risks associated with poultry farming activities in the vicinity of dwellings and the behaviour of the population of the town of Korhogo. To achieve this, a qualitative socio-anthropological approach was used. The data collected came from 97 semi-structured interviews and direct observation from 15 April to 27 May 2024 in the town of Korhogo. The main results show that local residents living near poultry farms are aware of the health risks to which they are exposed, but the balance of power between gains and risks explains their practices. Poultry farming close to homes has had an impact on local residents and their environment. Residents often suffer from respiratory ailments, allergies, soiling of their surroundings, odour nuisance and other noises. As for the environment, it has suffered pollution of its air and water quality, as well as soil degradation. The reasons why these poultry farmers decide to carry out their activities close to homes are environmental, economic, social and ethical. Hence the need to train young farmers to manage the nuisances generated by these poultry farming activities.

Integrated pest management farmer field school of Chinese cabbage for young farmers in Batu City

The Abinaya Milenial Youth Farmers Group in Sumber Brantas Village, Bumiaji District, Batu City, faces significant challenges in cultivating Chinese cabbage due to a high incidence of clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, with infection rates reaching 50–80 percent, leading to crop failure. The overuse of synthetic pesticides has resulted in pathogen resistance. Therefore, we adopted an integrated pest management (IPM) approach focusing on long-term prevention by integrating ecologically-based control techniques. The principles of IPM include managing healthy plants, preserving natural enemies, monitoring, and enhancing farmers' ecological understanding to become IPM experts. Through the IPM Farmer Field School (IPM-FFS), we aimed to implement ecological IPM, improve agroecosystem health, and support sustainable agriculture through participatory extension methods. Activities were conducted from June to November 2023 in Sumber Brantas Village, Bumiaji District, Batu City. The activities included surveys, planning, socialization, teaching, training, and follow-up. The IPM-FFS successfully developed standard operating procedures for Chinese cabbage management, increasing farmers' knowledge of IPM by 85 percent. The adoption of IPM reduced the incidence of clubroot disease to 20 percent, increased production by 420 kg, and reduced production costs by IDR 403,000 on an area of 400 m2. Farmers independently produce compost, compost tea, botanical pesticides, mycorrhizae, and fungicides through the IPM-FFS, empowering them in sustainable agriculture.

Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand

The study "Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand" addresses the critical role of agriculture in Thailand's economy and the challenges it faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, and market volatility. It emphasizes the importance of young smart farmers and innovative solutions like smart farming technologies, sustainable practices, and educational programs to ensure the sector's future sustainability and productivity. The research employs qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observations, to gather data on governmental policies and the preparedness of the next generation of farmers. The findings suggest a need for strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to foster a new generation of knowledgeable, technologically adept farmers. This effort aligns with national strategies to transform Thailand into a knowledge-driven economy, emphasizing sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

Does the European Union Start-Up Aid Help Young Farmers to Innovate and to Join Networks?

The endurance and vitality of European agriculture are threatened by the aging of farmers, together with the lack of generational change. The small share of young farmers also impacts on the innovative capacity and competitiveness of the sector. The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union started addressing the issue long ago by providing financial aid to help young farmers to start up. Over time, the aid increased and packages of measures were set to reinforce the aid and to promote investments, innovations, and networks at the farm level. While the literature focuses on analyzing the effectiveness of the start-up aid in fostering new entries, this paper assumes an original perspective as it seeks to assess whether this aid has actually promoted innovations and networks in the beneficiary farms. The analysis relies on sample data collected in 2021 in Italy and Poland via interviews of 500 farmers under 40 who had entered the sector both with and without the aid. A probit model estimates whether the beneficiaries have a higher probability to innovate and network. Then, the contribution of the aid to the intensity of the adoption of innovations and networks is estimated via an Average Treatment Effect on the Treated model (ATT). Results suggest that the start-up aid increased the adoption of innovations and networks. The ATT indicates that this positive effect holds even after correcting for self-selection bias. By adopting an original perspective, our analysis suggests that the start-up aid for young farmers goes beyond rejuvenating agriculture by fostering innovation at the farm level and by promoting networking, thus enhancing agricultural change. However, farmer behaviors in the two countries are different, suggesting quite complex patterns for the impact of this measure.

Influence of Socio-Economic and Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania

This study sought to establish the influence of socio-economic and institutional factors on the adoption of conservation agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania. This study used a cross-sectional research design, using the sample of 176 farming households, where 89 households were CA adopters and the remaining 87 households were non-CA adopters. Data from a questionnaire was analyzed through a binary logistic regression model and descriptive statistics. The study concluded that gender, age market availability, credit accessibility and bylaw awareness influenced the adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the study area. If credit accessibility, extension service and bylaws are present, then adopting CA is done more easily. Therefore, before introducing CA, it is important to assess the presence of these factors for better results. Some of the recommendations are that collaboration between financial institutions and policymakers be encouraged as it is essential to increase farmers' credit accessibility by providing affordable loans and financial services. Extension services need to be improved and expanded by funding the extension programs and employing more extension workers. Information dissemination and training on CA should be tailored to consider the needs of female and young farmers. Additionally, cooperative farming groups or networks of young and female farmers should be created to facilitate resource pooling, knowledge sharing and collective investment in necessary equipment and inputs.

Civilian-Military Relations in the “Camp Philadelphia” Incident, 1863

ABSTRACT A venerable History of Philadelphia, 1609–1884 by J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott has been long and widely used by many historians, sometimes with insufficient due diligence, for overall background and context for more specialized topics. An event in Philadelphia involving a confrontation between soldiers and civilians in August 1863, which led to the death of a young farmer, was one such incident where Scharf and Westcott got it all wrong. Unfortunately, their rendition of the event in terms of place and persons involved has been repeated in some more modern histories. Setting the record straight, however, has led to some unexpected benefits which further our awareness of conditions on the Philadelphia home front during the Civil War years; and it could, by extension and expansion, advance our historical understanding of civilian-military relations in other cities in the United States where military camps were placed within urban settings.

Factors Associated with Morbidity and Mortality of Goat in Extensive and Semi-Intensive Farming Systems in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

The present study was conducted to identify the associated factors with morbidity and mortality of goats in extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. A sample of 266 goat farmers of three districts i.e., Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the eastern province were randomly selected with the assistance of veterinary offices. A pre-tested questionnaire with face-to-face interviews, farm visits and observations were used to collect the data. The study found that goat farming is a male-dominant (>90%) activity regardless of the farming systems. Young and middle-aged farmers with better educations adopted semi-intensive farming systems while the older and poorly educated farmers adopted extensive farming systems while being self-employed. The factors i.e., ectoparasites, lack of feed, lack of water, age of the goats, rainy season, and the lack of veterinary services significantly associated (p<0.05) with morbidity and mortality of goats in both extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. The factors i.e., disease, poor housing, dry season and predator attack were not associated with morbidity and mortality of goats in semi-intensive farming systems whereas the association was significant (p< 0.05) in the extensive farming system. Hence, it is concluded that the semi-intensive farming system is effective in protecting goats from morbidity and mortality caused by disease, dry season, predator attack and poor housing compared to the extensive farming system. The factors associated with morbidity and mortality in extensive farming are inherent to the system except for the lack of veterinary services. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(3):369-376, 2024

Influence of Students’ Participation in Young Farmers’ Club on Performance in Agriculture in Secondary Schools in Suba Sub-County, Kenya

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors for economic growth in Kenya. Setting up of young farmers’ club (YFC) in secondary schools is one way of attracting young people in agriculture as well as developing their production skills. Inadequate participation in young farmers’ club may lead to poor performance in agriculture and negative attitude towards the subject by secondary school students.The aim of this study was to determine the influence of students’ participation in young farmers’ club on performance in agriculture subject in secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed in the study which targeted 628 Form Three agriculture students in public secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. Data was collected from an accessible population of 286 Form Three Young Farmers’ Club members in 37 public secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to get the study sample of 126 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Experts from the field of Agricultural Education and Extension of Egerton University assessed the instrument to ensure validity. Reliability was estimated through a pilot testing of 30 agriculture students in five secondary schools in neighbouring Nyatike Sub-County. The reliability was estimated using Cronbach alpha co-efficient where a co-efficient of 0.817 was computed and taken as satisfactory. Data was arranged,coded and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The study findings revealed that students’ performance in agriculture subject is significantly enhanced by participation in Young Farmers’ Club. This study recommends that students’ participation in Young Farmers’ Club activities should be encouraged in all secondary schools as a way of augmenting the students’ performance in agriculture subject. This can be done by availing adequate time for YFC’s activities. In addition, students in YFCs should be accorded with the required facilities in order to make their participation worthwhile.