ANALYSIS OF GRADUATE FARMERS’ PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT AGRICULTURAL TRAINING SCHEME IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study analyzed participation of graduate farmers in National Directorate of Employment Agricultural Training Scheme in Imo state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used to select the respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean counts and probit regression model. The result from the study showed that 57.78% and 51.11% of the respondents were males and had secondary education respectively, with mean ages 43.40 years, mean farming experience of 14 years and household size of 6 persons. The result also indicates that the graduate farmers were actively involved in crop =2.5) and livestock =2.5)components of the scheme. Probit regression analysis showed that gender, age, household size, education, cooperative membership and farming experience influenced graduate farmers participation in the scheme. It is therefore recommended that awareness on agricultural components; training and retraining of facilitators and proper funding to encourage the unemployed participate actively in the scheme.