INCOME GENERATION OF YOUTHS FROM AGRICULTURAL AND NON- AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study determines the income generating activities of youths from agricultural and non-agricultural activities in Niger State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents from the two Local Government Areas (Wushishi and Shiroro) for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire complimented with an interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data collected. Result indicated that majority (82.0%) of the respondents were between the age ranges of 26 – 40 years with mean age of 31 years, 84.7% were males, while 89.3% of the respondents acquired formal education. Finding further revealed that agricultural activities practiced by the respondents include crop production (53.3%), animal production (20.0%), fishery (13.3%), forestry and hunting (6.7%) respectively, while non - agricultural activities include tailoring (53.3%) and trading (13.3%) among others. The mean income of the youths realized from agricultural and non – agricultural activities was ₦33,260 and ₦12,700 per month. Furthermore, the result of the z – test (4.96) revealed that there was a significant difference in the income generated from agricultural and non-agricultural activities by the youths in the study area. Major constraints faced by youths’ engagement in agricultural activities were pests and diseases problem (100.0%), lack of marketing facilities (63.3%) and lack of fund (54.7%), while that of non – agricultural activities were high cost of equipments (81.3%), distance to market (69.3%) and lack of fund (66.0%). Based on the findings of the study more income was realized by the youth from agricultural activities compared to non – agricultural activities. Establishment of good marketing system and provision of subsidized agricultural inputs and equipments was recommended in order to encourage full participation of youths in livelihood diversification to agricultural and non - agricultural activities for improve income generation in the study area.