Challenges and enhancement of youth participation in agricultural education for sustainable food security

Abstract

The phenomenal low participation of youth in agricultural education programmes has featured in several forums both at national and international levels. This is because giving the right opportunity youth could make positive impact and create positive change in the economy of nations. This paper identified challenges and enhancement of youth participation in agricultural education for food security. Survey research design was adopted. The subjects for the study were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using questionnaire. The population for the study comprised of all students in tertiary institutions offering agricultural education programme in the study area. Two hundred and forty tertiary students were chosen through proportionate simple random sampling technique from six randomly selected tertiary institutions in the North Central Nigeria. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed youths studying agricultural education are aware of their roles through their participation in schools; which extends to their communities, thereby influencing sustainable food supply and availability. The study also revealed that the identified challenges prevail on the youth participating in agricultural education. Analysis of identified approaches had mean scores above the benchmark hence; they were regarded as useful in enhancing youth participation in agricultural education. It was concluded that youth studying agriculture were well aware of their role. Their participation is however, hampered by the enormous challenges bedeviling the programme, which has negative implication on interest by intended youths. The findings were further verified through a focus group discussion involving ten lecturers of agricultural education. It was concluded that youth’s participation in agricultural education is hampered by several challenges. The study recommended among others that, Agriculture teachers in collaboration with school management should emphasize establishment and maintenance of school farms by the students for practical skills acquisition by the youths in school; government should enhance funding, provide scholarship for students to sustain interest and enhance greater youth choice and participation in the programme.

Keywords: Agricultural education, sustainable, food security, youth, participation.

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