Northeastern Nigeria and Post-Insurgency: Restoration of Hope Through Youths’ Engagement in Agriculture
Abstract
Since 2009, incessant war in north-eastern Nigeria has led to the bereavement of lives and possessions, demolition of significant structures, dislodgment of masses, and the decline of commercial, health, and education structures. The average age of farmers is very high. Youngsters in more rural areas generally leave their community for more interesting jobs in cities, as while as higher wages or salaries. These growths have had related effects on the productivity and progress of the province and the country at large, given scarce national resources. The objective of this research is to examine youth’s role in restoring rural farmers’ hope through Agricultural engagement in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states of Nigeria. Both Quantitative and Qualitative approach was adopted to gather information from the farmers. Questions about Demographic Information, youth involvement in farming activities, how youth engagement affects rural farming communities, and barriers and potential areas for improvement. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 200 participants for the questionnaire survey. 82% of respondents were between 18-35 years old, 70% had secondary education, while 20% had tertiary education, 55% had less than 5 years of farming experience. 75% of youth reported being engaged in agricultural activities, 80% indicated that agriculture was their primary source of income. 70% of rural farmers reported an increase in crop yield due to youth engagement, 75% reported improved farming techniques. Though the challenges faced by youth in agriculture, such as inadequate access to finance and scarce farm equipment, need to be addressed to sustain their engagement. Policymakers and stakeholders should prioritize initiatives that provide financial support, training, and resources to youth in agriculture.
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