ATTITUDE OF YOUTH TOWARDS AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES ON CASSAVA ENTERPRISE IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The Delta State government, over the years, have mapped out various programmes to address the challenges confronting its citizenry. These programmes were established to gainfully engage the youths in cassava production; create jobs and wealth, reduce rural-urban migration and curb youth restiveness. Cassava youth farmers who benefited from Agricultural Intervention programmes and non-beneficiaries were selected. Simple random sampling was used to select 50% of beneficiaries (137) and non-beneficiaries (137). Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Post Hoc test. The result shows that the majority of beneficiaries (74.5%) and a few non-beneficiaries (29.2%) had a favourable attitude, while most non-beneficiaries (70.8%) and only 25.5% of beneficiaries had an unfavourable attitude towards the cassava enterprise. The ANOVA result also reveals that there exists a significant difference in the attitude of the cassava farmers across the study area (F = 43.63, p = 0.000). The study concluded that beneficiaries had a more favourable attitude compared with their non-beneficiary counterparts towards agricultural intervention programmes on cassava enterprise. Consequently, the programme implementer should organise seasonal training/workshop for the youths in order to establish confidence, self-reliance and sustainability in case the sponsor/government withdraws their funds.