EVALUATION OF STATE COORDINATED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AND EMPOWERMENT OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS: A CASE STUDY OF CROSS RIVER STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It will be of essence to discuss the state of poverty before diving into this research as it is also an important factor pertaining to this subject matter. The issue of poverty in Nigeria has long been a source of worry for the government. As a practical solution to the issue, attention was first concentrated on rural development and municipal planning (Agu, 2013). Youth unemployment is prevalent in Nigeria owing to a lack of opportunity, as well as physical and psychological difficulties brought on by poverty. Some young people react to these difficulties by participating in illegal or aggressive behavior, while others become despondent or depressed. Unemployment causes a slew of societal problems, and young people are especially vulnerable to its negative consequences, which include a lack of skills, poor self-esteem, marginalization, poverty, and the squandering of vast human resources. These issues of unemployment may be addressed by empowering adolescents via agricultural development programs that provide them with possibilities for self-employment in the agricultural sector (Agu, 2013).

According to the World Bank (2003), the majority of the rural population is illiterate, unemployed, and impoverished. Rural regions have the highest rates of poverty as measured by low income. Malnutrition, a lack of education, a short life expectancy, and substandard housing are among issues that plague rural regions (International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2012). As a result, rural regions lack the infrastructure necessary to make life more pleasant and improve the quality of living of those who live there. Poverty is also marked by a lack of involvement in the decision-making process, as well as in civic and socio-cultural life. It is inextricably connected to a lack of control over or access to resources. Youths who lack these resources have restricted access to institutions, markets, job prospects, and government services. As a result, special steps must be implemented to alleviate adolescent poverty. Youth empowerment via agricultural development programs would help to alleviate poverty and give them with possibilities for meaningful employment (Oyekale, 2011).

Furthermore, poverty in Nigeria has taken on new aspects, including family income poverty, food insecurity, inadequate access to public services and infrastructures, an unclean environment, illiteracy and ignorance, life and property insecurity, and bad governance. In response to the country's deteriorating agricultural performance, administrations have implemented a slew of policies and initiatives throughout the years aimed at restoring agriculture's prominence in the economy (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 2005).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Youth unemployment is a major challenge facing not just Cross River state but also all other states in Nigeria. Youths have the potential to play an important role in agricultural development. The majority of agricultural policies and programs developed in Nigeria do not take into account the limitations that farmers face. Youths who are engaged in agricultural development experience a lack of interest in agriculture, as a consequence of drudgery in farm operations, a lack of a competitive market for agricultural products, lack of start-up capital, insufficient labor-saving technology for ease of operations, and insufficient finance/credit facilities, to name a few. As a consequence, they are confronted with severe economic difficulties.

This has prompted youths to seek work in other sectors of the economy in order to gain economic independence, resulting in rural-urban migration and leaving the majority of agricultural output in the hands of elderly people who frequently produce at a subsistence level. However, empowerment of these youths can play a major role in providing employment opportunities in the agricultural sector. This study seeks to evaluate state coordinated agricultural development programs and empowerment of unemployed youths in Cross River state.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate state coordinated agricultural development programs and empowerment of unemployed youths in Cross River state. Thus, the following objectives;

1. To examine the current state of coordinated agricultural programs in Cross River state.

2. To investigate the extent to which unemployed youths are empowered pertaining to agriculture in Cross River state.

3. To determine if the youths when empowered will be willing to indulge in coordinated agricultural programs.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions guide this study;

1. What is the current state of coordinated agricultural programs in Cross River state?

2. What is the extent to which unemployed youths are empowered pertaining to agriculture in Cross River state?

3. Will youths when empowered be willing to indulge in coordinated agricultural programs?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be significant to the government and the agricultural sector as it will be an eye opener as to a solution to the issue of youth unemployment in Cross River state. It will assist the government make the necessary actions to ensure that youth are empowered pertaining to agricultural programs and also supported to full extent. This study will also be helpful as it will be an addition to other works that have been conducted on such a subject matter. It will provide materials for other researchers conducting research on closely related topics.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will cover the current state if coordinated agricultural programs in Cross River state as well as the extent to which unemployed youths are empowered pertaining to agriculture. It will be limited to Cross River state.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

During the course of this study, the researcher was faced with a lack of the necessary funds needed to delve deeper into the research and broaden the scope of the study.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: A process where children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situation and then take action in order to improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values, and attitudes.

2. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT:  Refers to the process that creates the conditions for the fulfillment of agricultural potential.