Rural Youth Participation in Agriculture: Exploring the Significance and Constraints using a Zambian Context.

Abstract

Agriculture plays a major role in the economic growth and development of most countries. In Zambia, agriculture is an important sector in fostering sustainable economic growth and development, as well as poverty reduction. Consequently, the need for effective and progressive agricultural development is fundamental. To achieve this, the involvement of the youth cannot be overstated. However, even though the extant literature indicates that youth face constraints that hinder their active involvement in agricultural activities, studies that assess youth participation in agriculture and the challenges they face in agriculture in Zambia are rare. Therefore, this study assessed significance of rural youth participation in agriculture and the constraints they face in view of identifying ways of enhancing rural youth involvement in agriculture. Data for the study was collected from eighty (80) rural youths in Kafue, Itimpi and Luangwa agriculture blocks of Kitwe district using a self-administered questionnaire. Results showed that rural youth involvement in agriculture serves as a source of income generation and provides the much needed labor force in critical farming activities among others. The results also revealed that rural youth involvement in agriculture is characterized with constraints that include lack of access to capital, poor storage facilities, poor road networks, poor access to agriculture insurance for farm produce, and lack of technical assistance. To increase rural youth participation in agriculture, the study recommends the need to address the challenges rural youths face whilst promoting interventions that reinforce the benefits the youths derive from participating in agriculture.