Strategies for Promoting Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Youths in Pig Farming in Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas, Abia State, Nigeria

Onuka, Akuma U. ; Oketoobo, Emmanuel A. ; Ubah, Georgiana Naed .

Authors

Onuka, Akuma U. ; Oketoobo, Emmanuel A. ; Ubah, Georgiana Naed . Department of Agricultural and Vocational Education Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Author

Abstract

The study evolved strategies for promoting entrepreneurship opportunities for youths in pig farming in Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas (LGAs), Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined strategies which the following groups could adopt to equip youths for involvement in commercial pig farming in Abia state: youths themselves, groups in the community and governments. Three hypotheses (HOs) were tested. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population was made up of all commercial pig farmers and Agricultural Extension officers in the two LGAs. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings include 13 youth related strategies youths could adopt to equip themselves for participation in commercial pig farming. These include among others; intending youth farmer should be able to locate reputable commercial pig farm to train (= 3.26), complete the training on pig farming at the agreed time ( = 3.77). 12 community related strategies for equipping youths for involvement in commercial pig farming including, commercial pig farmers provide high quality breeds of piglets for youths to stock their farm ( = 3.56), farmers help youths to register their pig farms with regulatory agencies ( = 3.42) and others. Other findings are 15 government related strategies for equipping youths for involvement in commercial pig farming. These include among others, provide cash or subsides to youths interested in pig farm ( = 3.79), build market for youths to sell their pigs and pig products ( = 3.83), might sanction banks for failure to give leans at low interest rate. Findings on HOs show that there were no significant differences in the mean ratings of commercial pig farmers and Agricultural Extension officers on strategies for promoting entrepreneurship opportunities for youths in Arochukwu and Ohafia LGAs.