Jeffrey Paul IDEMUDIA

Agriculture remains a crucial sector in Nigeria, yet youth engagement in this field has witnessed a decline in recent years. This study was conducted to examine the perception of secondary school students towards Young Farmers Clubs (YFCs) in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The research investigates various factors influencing students' attitudes towards joining YFCs, particularly focusing on gender differences. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 125 respondents for the study The first stage involved a purposive selection of five (5) schools in the study area. The second stage involved a proportional sampling of 25% of student from each school giving a total of 125 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that a majority of both male (66.7%) and female (67.9%) students fell within the mid-teenage age range of 15-16 years. Class distribution within YFCs showed that male students predominantly occupied the Senior Secondary School Two class (60.9%), while female students were distributed more evenly across the Senior Secondary School classes. Analysis of YFC activities demonstrated varying participation rates between genders, with 79.7% of males and 94.6% of females identifying several activities they performed, primarily soil and environment conservation. Notably, 39.16% of males and 8.9% of females participated in fish farming. Reasons for joining YFCs also varied between genders, with males emphasizing personal interest (4.15) and academic improvement (3.55), while females prioritized academic enhancement (3.26) and participation in study trips and agricultural shows (4.72)