STRATEGIES FOR INCORPORATING YOUTHS INTO RURAL AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN ORUMBA-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA


U.N Akwiwu, O.N Nwaogwugwu
Department of Agricultural Extension and Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Abstract
The study explored the strategies for incorporating youths into rural extension services in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, ascertained the relevant rural extension services for youths in the study area and identified the strategies for incorporating youths into rural extension services in the study area. Data for the study was obtained through a structured and validated questionnaire administered to a sample size of one hundred and twelve (112) respondents randomly selected from the registered youth associations in the study area. Data obtained were analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean. The result on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents revealed that majority of the members of the youth associations in the study area were male (76.3%), within the ages of 20 – 30 years (68.8%) and single (73.8).The relevant extension services available to the respondents include: skill training and acquisition schemes (mean=3.63), rural youth employment scheme (mean=3.36), health and immunization awareness (mean=3.2).The strategies to incorporate youths in rural extension services include: encouraging their participation in agribusiness ventures (mean=3.88), organizing recreational activities and social events (mean=3.86), encouraging self–employment scheme (mean=3.84), and organizing field trips to established agricultural station and farms (mean=3.79) . The study concludes that youths’ participation in relevant rural extension services could be enhanced through the use of appropriate strategies. Based on the findings it is recommended that extension agents should adopt variety of strategies to effectively incorporate youth associations in the study area into rural extension services since such associations are the platforms through which the youths can be organized and made functional.
Keywords: Strategies, Youth, Youth Associations, Rural Extension Service
Journal Name :
EPRA International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Economic Research (ARER)

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Published on : 2025-07-12

Vol : 13
Issue : 7
Month : July
Year : 2025
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