The Contribution of Agricultural Extension Services to the Economic Empowerment of Youth in Mityana District - Central Uganda

Abstract

This study focused on the contribution of agricultural extension services to the empowerment of youth in Mityana, following the intervention of Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung an NGO in empowering rural youth involved in small-scale farming with vocational skills to enhance diversification. 44 people were randomly selected to complete a quantitative questionnaire survey and 12 were purposively selected to complete short answer interview guide designed to gauge their perception towards agricultural extension services and its contribution to youth empowerment. However, out of a total of 56 respondents, only 54 of them responded positively resulting to an overall response rate of 96.4%. The youth groups covered were drawn from 12 villages in two sub counties; Bulera and Maanyi.

The data gathered was entered into a database and analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) Version 20, to investigate the relationship between agricultural extension services and youth empowerment in Mityana District. Pearson, Correlation and T-tests were used to establish the magnitude to which the independent and dependent variables were related. The findings portrayed that agriculture extension services affected youth empowerment to the extent that, many youth acquired practical enhanced agricultural skills and techniques, ability to innovate, problem solving approaches, and knowledge on scientific management of land. Conclusively, youth involvement in agricultural activities in the area generally showed an unfavorable disposition to participating in agricultural activities despite the fact that the adoption of agricultural extension services portrayed a significant relationship between agricultural extension services and youth empowerment. Therefore, government should bringing to the knowledge of youths relevant and timely agricultural innovations and training, introduction of low interest rate loans with flexible collateral to enable youth hire, purchase or lease land, authenticate high yielding seeds and inputs and link the youth to ready market for their produce.

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