AN ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND NON AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES OF YOUTHS IN KABOJI DISTRICT, NIGER STATE, NIGERIAAN ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND NON AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES OF YOUTHS IN KABOJI DISTRICT, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed agricultural livelihood activities of youths in Kaboji District of Niger State. To achieve the study objectives, 75 youth respondents were randomly selected from five villages in the District. Data collected from the respondents were analysed using descriptive statistics and 'chi- square test. The result revealed that majority of the respondents (44. 00%) fall within the age range of 26 10 32 years, while more than half of the respondents (56. 00%) have no formal education. The major agricultural livelihood activity oj the youths in the area was crop farming with 96.00% response, followed by livestock farming as indicated by 68.00% of the respondents. On the other hand, the most popular non-agricultural livelihood activity among the respondents was puck animal business (58.67%); using camels and donkeys to transport a variety of items including farm products for a fee depending on distances and size of the load. Further analysis indicates that significant relationship exists between age and household 'size of the respondents and their participation in agricultural livelihood activities. Based on the findings, the paper drew attention to the need to consider the age and family size of the youths when planning and implementing agricultural programme. Furthermore, sensitization of youths on diverse agricultural livelihoods was suggested to enable them obtain more opportunities for sustainable development.