CHALLENGED FACED BY YOUTH ENGAGING IN AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

This study sought to assess challenges affecting the youth engagement in agriculture in Kiambu

Country. Specifically, the study sought to find out; to what extent knowledge, land, attitude and credit

affect youth’s engagement in agriculture. The study was conducted in Limuru Sub County because of the

issue of high land fragmentation. Agriculture can be traced back to 10, 000BC by estimating the date of

existence of the first farmer who was identified keeping domesticated animals and plants. Agriculture has

evolved over the years just as the society has been changing . Initially, there were no farmers thus people

depended on nature or food through hunting and gathering. During this time, the population was small,

but with time it grew, and the number of farmers grew large. As of 2016, the population has grown to

billions, and we have a few farmers who support the rest. The origin of agriculture is explained by many

theories.

METHODS

This study used two theories as a guide to gather and analyze findings. The rational theory was

pioneered in sociology by Homans (1961 as cited in Scott, 2000). The theory assumes that all social actions

can be explained by basic individual action. Individuals are motivated by goals and wants. The goals and

wants are expressed in the form of preferences. However it is not always possible to achieve all the goals

and wants, so as choice has to be made. In making choices people evaluate all alternatives and choose

the one that has the best outcome. Rational action involves individuals engaging in consciously calculated

strategies. The study also used the migration theory by Harris and Todaro(1970) explained the theory of
migration by Everett S. Lee (1966). This theory is closely related to development studies and this study. It

stipulates that the push and pull factor that causes young people to move from the rural area to urban

areas. Some of the pull factors include increased educational opportunities and higher paying jobs in the

cities, while push factors in the rural areas are for example lack of or restricted access to land, capital or

knowledge. The migration theory proposes factors which influence decisions; those associated with the

area of origin, factors linked with the area of destination, intervening obstacles and personal factor.

Proportionate sampling was used to obtain the sample from the five wards of Limuru constituency,

namely; Ndeiya, Bibirioni, Limuru Central, Limuru East and NgechaTigoni. An equal representative number

of youth were sampled from each ward. Key informant interviews were purposely selected from area.

Data collection was sought from primary sources. A mixed method approach was incorporated with both

quantitative and qualitative methods. A semi structure questionnaire and an interview were recorded

with the permission from the interviewee. In cases where recording was prohibited , notes were taken.

As for the data analysis, quantitative data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science

(SPSS) computer software version 11.5. The data was descriptive in nature and it was presented in form

of frequencies, means , pie chart bar graphs and standard deviation. Further, the relationship between

youth engagement in agriculture with reference to knowledge, land, credit and attitude was determined

by using Pearson’s r, correlation. Qualitative data obtained from open ended questions and key informant

interviews were coded in line with emerging themes from the research.

RESULTS

The research instruments were presented to the supervisors for validation of content and guidance

sought on ways of enhancing the instruments. The researcher conducted a pilot study to pretest the

research tools, few changes were made on both the questionnaire and the interview guide. Additionally,
to ensure consistency of the results, the researcher ran a reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha, the

coefficient was 0.996. According to Tawakol and Dennic, (20110 an instrument with an alpha of 0.7 or

more is considered reliable.

DISCUSSION

Agriculture in many countries is mainly practiced by older people of about of about 60 years of age.

Agriculture is perceived to be an occupation that is practiced by the uneducated, poor, rural or old people.

Most of the youth prefer white collar jobs despite the vast number of unemployed youth. There is an

adverse effect of youth perception on agriculture and as a last resort affects their choice of occupation.

They don’t have the interest in engaging in agriculture and there is a decreased number of students

enrolling in universities in agriculture-based courses. There is clearly poor perception about youth

agriculture among youth. Agriculture is perceived as a dirty job for the less educated and as a low income

earner. If youth do not change their perception of agriculture, the productivity of food will continue

decreasing. An aging of the farming population is raising a concern. There is a trend of many young people

reportedly choosing not to pursue livelihoods in the agriculture sector especially as farmers.