TY  - EJOU
AU  - 
T1  - Perception of Kogi State University Agricultural Students on Farming as a Career
T2  - International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research

PY  - 2016
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
SN  - 2312-6477

AB  - This study examined the perception of Kogi State University Agricultural
 Students on farming as a career. Primary data were collected using 
structured interview schedule to pick 150 students in the study area. 
Stratified random sampling technique was used to pick 30 students from 
each level (100-500). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive 
statistics such as frequency count, percentage and mean score on a 3 
point likert-type of scale. The result of the study indicated that a 
large percentage (42.7%) of students were from household size of 4 to 6 
which is fairly large for the needed labour force for agricultural 
activities. Many (56%) of the students had no farming experience before 
their enrolment into the university. The study further showed that most 
of the students had negative attitude when they resumed in 100 level 
mean score (X) (2.30) but are now greatly influenced by agricultural 
education impacted by trained agricultural experts (X) (2.67). Students 
Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme had also positively 
changed the students attitude to farming (2.25). Most respondents (X) 
(2.58) 86% showed willingness to engage in practical agricultural 
enterprise if supplied with the necessary agricultural inputs. Also 
willingness to embark on poultry farming had (X) (2.73), fish farming 
had ms (2.49), cash crop farming had (X) (2.19) and arable crop farming 
had (X) (2.12) which represented a popular perception among the 
respondents. Piggery farming with (X) (1.47) and beekeeping with (X) 
(1.33) had the least indication of interest by the students. 
Implementation of government agricultural policies that will ensure 
regular input and attractive market price could motivate agricultural 
graduates to embrace farming as a career.
KW  - Perception
KW  - Youth
KW  - Career
KW  - Farming agricultural education
KW  - Schemes
KW  - Policy.
DO  - 10.18488/journal.70/2016.3.4/70.4.72.81