RELEVANCE AND BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME TO PARTICIPATING YOUTH IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The study was conducted to identify the relevance and benefit of Osun Staate Agricultural Youth Empowerment programme (OSSAYEP) to participating rural youths. Multi-stage, simple random sampling procedures were used in selecting youths from each of the seven local governments in Osun central senatorial district to give a total sample size of 70. The instrument used to obtain information from the youths was structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and cumulative frequency. Chi-Square was further used to test relationships between variables. The findings showed that 61.4 percent of the youths were male, 41.4 percent were between 21-26 years. Sixty percent were single and hard secondary education. The test of hypotheses established significant difference between some demographic characteristics (respondent’s village χ? = 0.00 p< 0.05, educational level χ? = 0.009 p< 0.05) and benefits derived from the programme. Also there was significant difference between marital status of respondents and the relevance of the programme. (χ? = 0.13, p< 0.05). It can be concluded that relevance of the programme and benefits derived by the youths was affected by their village and educational level. Based on these findings, it was recommended that creation of more farm centers should be adopted and should be properly located in strategic places is the local governments for the maximum benefit of youths.