ABSTRACT

The study assessed the effect of extension services of National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike on involvement of rural youths in cassava production in Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the youths, ascertain the various sources of information on cassava production, determine the level of participation of the youths in cassava production, determine their reasons for engaging in cassava production, assess their level of awareness on extension service programmes of the NRCRI, and ascertain the constraints to rural youth involvement in cassava production. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed, and data were collected from 120 youths, using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean score and inferential statistics involving the use of multiple and probit regression analysis. The study revealed that the mean age of the youths was 34 years. The mean years of schooling was 13 years, the mean household size was approximately 4 persons, while the mean years of experience in cassava farming was approximately 9 years. The study revealed that the foremost cassava production activities being participated by the youths were processing ( = 3.48), cultivation/ planting ( = 3.43), and harvesting ( = 3.40). The study also revealed that the major reasons the youths in the study area participate in cassava production were food security ( = 3.41), increased cost of garri ( = 3.33), and high market demand and consumption of garri ( = 3.21). Furthermore, the study revealed that among the extension programme of NRCRI, improved cassava varieties (85.8%), fertilizer application (85.0%), and time of harvesting (72.5%) had the highest awareness. The foremost constraints to participation of youths in cassava production were land tenure problem ( = 3.23), lack of access to start-up capital ( = 3.18), and lack of farm inputs ( = 3.16). The study further revealed that household size, membership to co-operative and years of experience had significant positive influence on participation of the youths in cassava production at 1%, 1% and 5% respectively, while income had significant negative influence on participation at 1%. Similarly, awareness of the youths on improved cassava varieties, fertilizer application and herbicides application had significant positive effect on youth participation in cassava production at 5% each. Furthermore, among the reasons for the participation for youths in cassava, food security, increased cost of garri, and high market demand and consumption of garri had significant positive influence on participation at 1% each. Hence, it was concluded that the extension services programme of NRCRI has significantly influenced the youths’ participation in cassava production. The study therefore recommended for Government and NGOs to encourage rural youths to belong to co-operatives, enhance extension service, encourage rural youths to practice commercial farming to enable them have farm produce for marketing, develop and provide more improved cassava varieties to the youths, provide loans and credit facilities to rural youth farmers, and enact policies on issues affecting land ownership to youths so as to promote availability and access to land by rural youths intending to venture into farming.