Assessement of Youth Participation in cassava production under the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Bida local government area of Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess youths participation in cassava production under value chain development programme (VCDP) in Bida local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria, with the specific objectives of describing the socio-economic characteristics of the VCDP participants, determine the costs and returns of the casserva farmers under VCDP, assess the level of youths participation in VCDP, examine the factors influencing youth participation in the VCDP and ascertaining the constraints limiting youths' participation in VCDP. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 100 young cassava farmers and data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and probit regression analysis while profitability was determined using gross margin and net farm income analysis The results obtained shows that farmers in the study area had low formal education and were mostly married males with an average age and household size of 32 years and six (6) persons respectively. The gross margin and net farm income were N109,050.00 and 103,450.00 per hectare, respectively. The level of young farmers participation under the VCDP was moderate and this was influenced by the age. gender, level of education, marital status, household size, farming occupation and cooperating membership of the farmers. The major constraints faced by the farmers includes: inadequate capital. inadequate extension services, inadequate market linkage and non-functional cooperative societies. It was concluded that youth's participation in VCDP was relatively maderate. And to enhance their participation, it was recommended that change agents should enlighten farmers on the benefit of VCDP through the regular sources of information in the area. Similarly, farmers should be motivated to operate a functional cooperative that could facilitate credit and group dynamism.