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 parents to 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 ONE 1

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

3.1 Study Area                                                                                                                      46

3.2 Research Population                                                                                                        47

3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures                                                                      48

3.4 Method of Data Collection                                                                                           48

3.5 Data Analysis                                                                                                                  48

3.6 Measurement 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

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