ABSTRACT

The study investigated the Determinants of Rural Youth Participation in selected Agricultural Projects in Owerri Agricultural Zone of Imo State. The major objective of the study was to determine the effect of socio-economic factors on rural youths' participation in agricultural projects. Data were obtained from two hundred youths farmers selected from ten communities in five Blocks of Owerri Agricultural Zone. Imo State, Nigeria, using random sampling technique. The instrument used to obtain information from the respondents was structured questionnaire schedule. The results revealed that majority (67%) were within the age bracket of thirty to thirty-five years. Majority (54.5%) were females. Majority (53.5%) were full time farmers, while (55.5%) were married. However, (100%) had formal education. Results further indicated that majority (28.5%) had three years farming experience. Majority (44%) were unemployed before their involvement in the agricultural projects. The level of awareness of the agricultural projects recorded by the respondents were Imo State Agricultural Development Project (30%), Fadama Agricultural Development Project (26.5%), Poverty Alleviation Agricultural Project (30%), while Forward Africa Agricultural Project recorded (13.5%). The agricultural facilities provided in the rural areas to encourage participation were fertilizer (15%), information (26.67%) and farmland (1%) by Imo State Agriculture Development Project. Agricultural information (15.60%) by Fadama Agricultural Development Project. Fertilizer (4%) and agricultural information (29.18%) by Poverty Alleviation Agricultural Project. Agricultural information (0.05%) and farmland (0.05%) by Forward Africa. The research revealed high extent of participation in the agricultural activities with t cal 106.70 > t crit 17.53. The major problem as identified by the young farmers include inadequate and high cost of fertilizers, lack of funds, land availability, distance to the training centre, land ownership status, and poor rural infrastructure to encourage them produce large quantities of quality produce. The analysis carried out on the relationship between youth's participation and socio-economic determinants using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation revealed that there was positive and statistically significant relationship between youth participation and education. This was given by correlation 0.96 at 0.01 level of significant. There was positive and statistically significant relationship between youth participation and unemployment. This was given by the correlation 0.96 at 0.05 level of significant There was positive and statistically significant relationship between youth participation and agricultural input (fertilizer, farmland loan). The correlation coefficient 0.97 at 0.01, 0.94 at 0.05 and 0.92 at 0.05 level of significant gave this respectively. Positive and insignificant relationship existed between youth participation and farming experience. This was given by the correlation 0.27 at 0.05 level of significant. Also positive and insignificant relationship existed between youth participation and distance. This was given by the correlation 0.77 at 0.05 level of significant.