Encouraging youth's involvement in agricultural production and processing

Available evidence suggests an ageing farming population in Nigeria, with an average age of 47 years and life expectancy at 47-50 years in 2008 (NBS 2008, Oboh et al., 2009). In 2009, the national unemployment rate was 19.7 percent with the youth accounting for more than 75 percent (NBS, 2010). Increased involvement of youth in agricultural activities will help reduce the problems of the ageing farm population and increasing youth unemployment. This brief explores issues related to youth involvement in agriculture such as socioeconomic characteristics of youth engaged in agriculture and factors hindering youth involvement in agriculture.