ASSESSMENT OF AGRO ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL YOUTHS IN IKWERRE L.G.A

Abstract

The study examined the assessment of agro entrepreneurial activities for the development of rural youths in Ikwere Local Government Area Rivers State. Specifically it was designed to describe socio economic characteristics of the respondents, identify the entrepreneurial activities in the study area, determine entrepreneurial skill needs for the development of rural youth, examine the effect of entrepreneurial skill needs for the development of rural youth and ascertain constraints to entrepreneurial activities for the development of rural youth in the study area. Random sampling technique was employed to select Purposive sampling technique was used to select one 120 rural youth entrepreneurs in the study area. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that majority of the respondents (35.83%) were between the ages of 41-50 years, 36.67% had secondary 25.0% were single, 21.67% were self-employed and 28.33% had household size of between (4-6) persons. The result also showed the entrepreneurial activities in the study area to include, crop farmers (33.33%), Poultry Farmers (27.50) fish farmers (22.50%), agro product marketers (16.67%), Total (100%), the constraints of entrepreneurial activities in Ikwerre include high cost of doing business in the area. Two hypotheses where tested, the hypotheses on the relationship between socio economic characteristics of the rural youth and their entrepreneurial activities showed that there is a significant relationship between socio economic characteristics of the respondents and their entrepreneurial activities, except occupation and marital status The study recommends that Commercial banks and other financial houses can also promote youth’s involvement in enterprises by making funds readily available for the potential entrepreneurs.