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 parentsto 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 ONE1
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
3.1Study Area 46
3.2Research Population 47
3.3Sample Size and Sampling Procedures 48
3.4Method of Data Collection 48
3.5Data Analysis 48
3.6Measurement 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
