ASSESSMENT OF YOUTHS INVOLVEMENT IN SOILLESS FARMING
Faculty
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Abstract
In Nigeria, agricultural practices remain largely unattractive to people, especially
the youths for various reasons which include; low returns on time and input
investments, limited access to land, low investments in infrastructure necessary for
efficient value chain. Hence, the need to boost agricultural productivity has
become a major topic of discourse among development institutions. This study
accessed the involvement of youths in soilless farming in Ogun State, Nigeria. The
specific objectives are to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of youths
involved in soilless farming, to examine the factors that influence youths’
involvement in soilless farming, to ascertain the youths’ attitude towards soilless
agriculture technology, to examine the benefits of soilless farming to the youths
involved, investigate the challenges hindering the full engagement of youths in
soilless farming. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 102 respondents for
the study and primary data was collected with the use of questionnaire and results
were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The mean age of respondents was the ages of the respondents showed that the
majority of the respondents were between the ages of 23 – 27 years, 59% were
males, 41% were females. 84% were single, while 15% were married. Also, 72% had tertiary education. 62% of the respondents earned #50,000 naira or
less per month, while 27% of the respondents earned between #50,000 to
#100,000 naira. Furthermore, 93% of the respondents noted that they would
recommend soilless farming to other young people. Finance 50% and
environmental factors 30.4% were major factors hindering respondents full
engagement. In addition, the result revealed that respondents’ attitudes towards soilless farming
have a positive relationship towards the socioeconomic characteristics (age
XI
(r=0.882), sex (r=0.820), marital status (r=0.560), education (r=0.790), course
studied (r=0.849), farm name (r=0.783), position at work (r=0.869), duration of
involvement (r=0.854) and income (r=0.849)). In conclusion, youth involvement in soilless agriculture is low and can be
improved upon through trainings, publicity and government investment in public
orientation and the benefits of practicing soilless farming.
the youths for various reasons which include; low returns on time and input
investments, limited access to land, low investments in infrastructure necessary for
efficient value chain. Hence, the need to boost agricultural productivity has
become a major topic of discourse among development institutions. This study
accessed the involvement of youths in soilless farming in Ogun State, Nigeria. The
specific objectives are to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of youths
involved in soilless farming, to examine the factors that influence youths’
involvement in soilless farming, to ascertain the youths’ attitude towards soilless
agriculture technology, to examine the benefits of soilless farming to the youths
involved, investigate the challenges hindering the full engagement of youths in
soilless farming. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 102 respondents for
the study and primary data was collected with the use of questionnaire and results
were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The mean age of respondents was the ages of the respondents showed that the
majority of the respondents were between the ages of 23 – 27 years, 59% were
males, 41% were females. 84% were single, while 15% were married. Also, 72% had tertiary education. 62% of the respondents earned #50,000 naira or
less per month, while 27% of the respondents earned between #50,000 to
#100,000 naira. Furthermore, 93% of the respondents noted that they would
recommend soilless farming to other young people. Finance 50% and
environmental factors 30.4% were major factors hindering respondents full
engagement. In addition, the result revealed that respondents’ attitudes towards soilless farming
have a positive relationship towards the socioeconomic characteristics (age
XI
(r=0.882), sex (r=0.820), marital status (r=0.560), education (r=0.790), course
studied (r=0.849), farm name (r=0.783), position at work (r=0.869), duration of
involvement (r=0.854) and income (r=0.849)). In conclusion, youth involvement in soilless agriculture is low and can be
improved upon through trainings, publicity and government investment in public
orientation and the benefits of practicing soilless farming.
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