Rural Households’ Youth Participation in Rice Agribusiness Value Chain Activities: Implications for Employment Opportunities

Abstract

Purpose: Rice is a food security and multi-value chain crop in Nigeria having the potential to provide employment and income for the teeming population of unemployed youth. The study identified the various rice value chain activities youth participated in, investigated their levels of participation, how they perceived participation in rice agribusiness value chain activities and the constraints affecting their participation.Research Method: A four-stage sampling procedure was used to sample youth from 144 rural households engaging in rice agribusiness activities. Well-validated interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data which was summarised using appropriate descriptive statistics with the hypotheses also adequately tested.Findings: Results show that more males were participating in rice agribusiness value chain activities with a mean age of 29 years. Respondents participated in multiple rice agribusiness activities and majority (77.8%) had favourable perception towards participation. Constraints limiting youth participation include poor land tenure system and bird invasion; majority (89.6%) participated in rice agribusiness value chain activities at high level. Income (r = 0.250) and length of experience (r = 0.211) were significantly related to youth participation. Difference existed in youth participation in rice value chain activities across the three agro-ecological zones. Originality/value: The study revealed that youth actively participated in almost all the activities along rice agribusiness value chain.