Exploring Youth Entrepreneurship in Yam Processing Industries, Minna, Niger State

Abstract

Agriculture is the biggest single industry in many less developed countries of the world. It plays a significant role as it contributes to the national food security, national social and economic stability and also to the environmental protection of the nation. Most youth are engaged in some sort of agricultural activity. For the most part, however, youth do not see the attractiveness of agriculture as a primary income generating activity. The study explore the opportunity available for youth in yam processing industries sector of the economy and also identify business opportunities in yam processing for youth. Descriptive survey approach was adopted to obtain information concerning opportunity availability for the youth in agricultural / food sector of the economy in Minna, Niger State. Data collected was coded using a predetermined coding scheme and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The researcher make use of Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS). Quantitative analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics. The findings shows low capital outlay, youth in agriculture sector not given respect, and inadequate land. These rank first (66.6 percent respectively). Other problems were poor infrastructure (53.33 percent), energy sapping (33.3 percent), non lucrative nature of agriculture in the study area (37.5), and no agricultural insurance (50 percent). It was therefore, recommended among others that government and other non-governmental organizations should assist the young people in the area who have the interest to get fully involved in yam processing. Market outlets and systems should also be put in place for easy purchase as well as the sale of farm produce respectively.