Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

The agricultural sector in Nigeria is a major driver of economic growth and poverty reduction, given that it contributes to GDP and provides a source of employment to the population. This study was carried out to explore youth participation in agribusiness by examining the factors influencing their engagement and challenges encountered. Using a multi-staged sampling procedure, 288 participants were randomly selected from 1135 entrepreneurs for the study. Respondents were selected from the four agricultural zones that make up Jigawa State based on the concentration of entrepreneurs in each zone. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, minimum, maximum, and percentage), Likert scale, and binary logistic regression models. Results showed that the participants were on average 31.2 years old; predominantly (81.6%) male; and the majority (74.3%) were married, with a mean household size of 4 members. About 66% of the participants were educated up to secondary level and had entrepreneurial experience of 16 years. The logistic regression results showed that agribusiness participation was negatively influenced by sex, marital status, household size, level of education, and high tax rate, and different types of taxes on the same commodity. The odds of an increase in one unit of these variables showed a decrease in participation in agribusiness. Constraints identified were high investment capital requirements, different operational taxes, fixed input costs, and inadequate marketing skills. The study concluded that the youth were mostly educated and, under the right conditions, could participate in extensive agribusinesses. It was recommended that capacity-building programmes be organised to improve the skills of the youth through workshops, conferences, and seminars. Robust agricultural policies should be implemented by ensuring adequate interaction with relevant stakeholders.