ABSTRACT

The study was carried out in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia State. The study' investigated the level of Youth participation in farming activities in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia State Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area; ascertain the perception of the respondents on agricultural activities; identify the farming activities the youths participated in the area; assess the level of participation of the youths on farming activity; and identify constraints affecting the effective participation of youths in agriculture in the area. A total of 120 youths were used for the study using simple random sampling procedure. Data were collected with the use of structural questionnaire and were analyzed with both simple descriptive statistics and probit analysis. The result shows that majority (54.2%) were between (25-30 years) more males (80%) were involved, majority (58%) were in secondary schools. Most of the youths perceived agriculture as an occupation they can benefit from to make income out of it. The farming activities the youths were more involved include; ridging/moulding making (14.8%), processing/storage (13. 5%) and harvesting (13.2%), the types of farming they were mostly involved include arable crop farming and poultry farming. They participated actively on financial contribution towards acquiring more lands for farming (2.45) and making collective attempt to influence measures concerning cultivation of land (2.08). Major constraints to youth participation in the area, include, leadership (41%), poor incentive (21%) and lack of interest (17%). There is a positive and significant relationship between the level of participation of youths in farming activities and age (0.47%), education (0.045), and size of farm land (1.017). The study therefore recommend that youths should be trained through seminars and workshops, encouraged through provision of loans, inputs and subsides and agriculture should be mechanized in the area to sustain the interest of the youth in farming.