International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 4(10), pp. 184-191, October 2015 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors influencing rural youths involvement in cassava production in Oyo State

ADEBISI G. L.¹*, OYEBODE L.A.², OWOLADE E.O.¹ and JATTO B.O.¹

¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

²Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adebisigbadebo2014@gmail.com.

Accepted 14 September, 2015

Abstract

This study attempted to determine the factors influencing rural youths’ involvement in cassava production in Oyo State. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used in selecting the respondents. The first stage involved the stratification of Oyo State local governments into rural and urban. The second stage involved the selection of 20% of 21 rural local governments using simple random sampling technique which consists of 4 rural local governments. The third stage involved the selection of 20% of wards out of eleven wards using simple random technique which consists of eight wards in total in selected four rural local governments. The fourth stage involved the simple random selection of 2 communities from each ward which consists of sixteen communities in total in the selected wards. The fifth stage involved the simple random selection of 9 rural youths that were involved in cassava production from the selected communities which give a total sample size of 144 rural youths. However, the sampling rate was 97.2%. Primary data were collected from the respondents through the use of structured questionnaires. Data collected were subjected to both descriptive (mean, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics such as Chi-square and correlation. Result revealed that majority (72.9%) of the respondents were male, married (89.3%), and the level of involvement on cassava production among the rural youth was high (61.4%) as inadequate fund for crop expansion was indicated as highest constraint among the respondents (97.8%). Chi-square analysis of the result shows that there was significant relationship between level of education of the respondents (x=29.034, p=0.000) and their involvement in cassava production. Further results of correlation analysis revealed that there exist a correlation between farm size (r=0.487, p=0.000); farming experience (r=0.299, p=0.000), constraints (r=-0.379, p=0.000) and rural youth involvement in cassava production. Based on these findings, the study recommended that credit facilities should not be made difficult for rural youth to obtain and adequate fund should be made available to rural youth by the financial institutions at single digit rate with less application bottle neck.

Key words: Rural youth, involvement, cassava production.