The perception of Landmark University students on taking farming as a means of future livelihood

                                                                        ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to determine the perception of Landmark University Agricultural Students about farming as a means of future livelihood. A total of 120 students were randomly selected from Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Landmark University, Omu Aran. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from them. Data analysis was done using Frequency, pie charts, bar charts and percentages, Likert scale, as well as chi square. The respondents were young with average age of 21.7 years and they cut across major ethnic groups within the country. There were more males (55%) than females (45%) and the respondents were mostly of urban origin and belong to elite family of diverse educational and professional background. Most of the respondents (84.2%) agreed to study Agriculture as a career because it has a high potential for self-employment. Also, 66.6% of the students also stated that they chose to study Agriculture because they have interest in it. More than half of the students (60.8%) strongly disagreed that they were lured by their parentsto study Agriculture which indicates that the decision to study Agriculture was a voluntary decision. Also respondents prefer to earn a living from Agricultural production outfits and were not willing to work in non-agricultural outfits like banks, brewery and industry jobs and politics. The major prevailing constraints hindering the practice of agriculture as a future livelihood are insufficient capital, land tenure problem, lack of access to tractors and other farm inputs, inadequate transport and storage facilities. The study recommends that Government should further stimulate agricultural production and processing by making people to have access to resources such as land, technology, credit, and training.

KEYWORDS: Perception, Farming, Livelihood, Self-employment and career.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page ………………………………………………………………………………............…….i

Declaration Page ………………………..……………………………………………………….…..ii

Certification Page………………….……………………………………………………...........…....iii

Dedication ………………………….………..……………………………………………….……....iv

Acknowledgement ………….……….……………………………………………………….……....v

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Abstract…….………………………………………………………………………………………....vi

Table of Content …………………….……………………………………………………..……..…vii

List of Tables…….……………………………………………………………...…....…………....…ix

CHAPTER ONE1

1.1 Background of the Study                                                                                                12

1.2 Statement of the Problem                                                                                                15

1.3 Research Questions                                                                                                       17

1.4 Hypothesis                                                                                                                  17

1.5 Objectives of the Study                                                                                                17

1.6 Justification of the Study                                                                                                18

1.7 Scope of the Study                                                                                                       18

 

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                                                       19

2.1 Definition of terms                                                                                                       19

2.1.1 Perception                                                                                                                     19

2.1.2 Farming                                                                                                                     19

2.1.3 Career                                                                                                                            19

2.1.4 Future                                                                                                                            20 

2.2 History of Agricultural Career                                                                                          20

2.3 Careers In Agriculture                                                                                                 21

2.4 Factors Influencing Choice of Career                                                                            22

2.5 Perception of Youth About Agriculture In Nigeria                                                        29

2.6 Prospects of Agriculture as a means of Future Livelihood                                          32

2.7 Constraints to Agriculture as a Means of Future Livelihood                                              37

CHAPTER THREE                                                                                                                 46

METHODOLOGY                                                                                                              46

3.1Study Area                                                                                                                     46

3.2Research Population                                                                                                       47

3.3Sample Size and Sampling Procedures                                                                     48

 

3.4Method of Data Collection                                                                                          48

3.5Data Analysis                                                                                                                  48

3.6Measurement of Variables                                                                                           48

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                                                              50

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS                                                                                          50

4.1 Introduction                                                                                                                 50

4.2 Questionnaire Distribution and Collection                                                                   50

4.3 Objectives One: Results and Discussion                                                                     50

4.3.1 Age Group Distribution of Respondents                                                                     50

4.3.2 Sex Distribution of Respondents                                                                                   51

4.3.3 Marital status Distribution of Respondents                                                                     52

4.3.4 Present Course of Study of Respondents                                                                     53

4.3.5 Ethnicity Distribution of Respondents                                                                            53

4.3.6 Parents Occupation Distribution                                                                                   54

4.3.7 Place of Domicile Distribution of Respondents                                                        56

4.3.8 Farming Experience Distribution of Respondents                                                        56

4.4 Objective Two Results and Discussion                                                                             57

4.4.1 Factors Responsible for the Acceptability of Agriculture as a Future Career.                57

4.5 Objective Three Results and Discussion                                                                       59

4.5.1 Agricultural Student’s Future Livelihood Preference.                                                  59

4.6 Objective Four Results and Discussion                                                                              61

4.6.1 Constraints Hindering The Practice of Agriculture as a Career of the Future.                61