Determinants of decision and participation of rural youth in agricultural production: a case study of youth in Southern region of Nigeria

Evidence of labour constrained in the rural area and increasing rural -urban migration as well as mounting youth unemployment in urban areas of the Southern of Nigeria drove our interest to analyze youth involvement in agricultural activities in the region. Specifically, the study determined factors that modeled rural youth decision and participation in agricultural activities in the Southern region of Nigeria. Data were collected from 300 youth spread across the rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, one of the States in the region. Combinations of sampling methods were used to collect data for the study. Analytical tools used were descriptive and regression analysis (the Logit and Poisson regression). The Logit model estimates revealed that years of youth in social organization, access to ICT, nature of land ownership, and youth access to state owned agricultural programme were positive determined of decision of youth to engage in agricultural activities in the study area. On the contrary, male youth, years of formal education and marital status of youth were negative determinants. The Poisson estimates showed that, youth age, number of extension visit and years in social organization as well as purpose of farming were positive drivers of youth participation (numbers of hours spent in farm per day) in agricultural activities in the rural areas. On the other hand, years of formal education, farm income of previous farming season, land ownership and access to credit triggered youth participation negatively. Perceived constraints to youth involvement in agricultural activities were; insufficient initial capital, insufficient credit facility, poor storage facility, poor access to tractors and inadequate farm land among others. In order to increase youth involvement in agricultural activities in the rural areas, it is recommended that, stake holders should endeavor to provide storage facilities in the rural area to reduce the post-harvest losses. Communities in the rural area should support youth farmers through land donation. In addition government should empowered and strengthen youth groups or social capital formation in the rural Communities. State extension system should be strengthened to deliver more efficient services to youth farmers in the rural areas.