International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Abali I, Emerhirhi E and Oreke CI

abstract
The study aims to assess the involvement of rural youths in arable crop production in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. To achieve this, the following specific objectives were stated: to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, determine the level of participation of rural youths in arable crop production, and identify the constraints that hinder their effective participation in arable crop production. The data used for this study were collected using an interview schedule administered to 120 respondents who were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and means were used to analyse the data. The result of the study was that 58% of respondents were male, while 42% were female, indicating a predominance of male participants. The majority of respondents (63%) fell within the 21–30-year age bracket. Marital status of participants indicated that a significant proportion (64%) were single, while 24% were married. Educational attainment varied significantly among respondents, with 14% lacking formal education and 29% having completed the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). Occupationally, a significant majority (66%) were engaged in farming. Christians were 65%, while 32% practiced Traditional beliefs. Regarding monthly income, the majority of respondents earn between ?10,000 and ?40,000 monthly. Household size varied significantly among respondents, with 46% having 3-5 members. The study further revealed a mixed level of involvement among rural youths in arable crop production activities, with significant participation in certain areas like land clearing, harvesting, and pest control, while other critical areas, such as nursery preparation and fertilizer application, show low engagement levels. The findings indicate that poor yield from marginal land (M = 3.8) and lack of credit facilities (M = 3.8) were the most significant constraints to rural youth participation in arable crop farming. Additionally, inadequate government support (M=3.67) and high costs of planting materials (M=3.6) further hinder engagement. Thus, the study recommended, among others, the need for targeted intervention programs to enhance rural youth participation in all aspects of agricultural production by the government and other agricultural service providers.