Factors affecting on youth participation and satisfaction in occupation related to agriculture

Abstract

The agricultural sector is the foundation of Sri Lankan economy with large population living in rural areas depending on agriculture for their livelihood. According to rapid change in economic and social conditions, there is a challenge to the government so as to attract youth to agricultural development programs. Though literature reveals that a large proportion of unemployed youth have been relatively highly educated, they do not perceive agriculture as a remunerative or prestigious profession. The study was therefore carried out to identify the factors affecting youth participation in agriculture and their satisfaction by doing agriculture as an occupation using survey data conducted by Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) during March/May, 2012. The age group of the youth was between 15 to 29 years. Based on the separate 2-way classification tables, it was found that gender, marital status, education level, monthly income, agricultural experience, and availability of paddy land, agricultural machineries, agricultural inputs, financial facilities, labour, water/irrigation facilities, agricultural extension services, trainings and market facilities were significantly influential factors (p<0.05) on youth participation in agriculture. However, using binary logistic regression model revealed that only the education level, agricultural experience, and availability of agricultural machineries, agricultural inputs and financial facilities were significantly associated with youth participation in agriculture. Further, no significant interaction was found between any of the above five variables. The validity of the binary logistic model was confirmed by both Likelihood Ratio and Wald test using the backward elimination method. Of those who participated in agriculture as an occupation, marital status, education level, and availability of high land and labour were significantly associated (p<0.05) with their satisfaction on agriculture. The results obtained are useful for making policy decisions on youth activities. Based on results obtained, it can be recommended that it is necessary to expand the extension services through agricultural officers and keeping a strong and cooperative relationship between officers and young farmers. Also, it is suggeste