Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology (NJRS), 19( 2): 86 - 91 , 2019

Proclivity for agripreneurship among undergraduates of agriculture and entrepreneurship in selected universities in Southwestern Nigeria

Idris-Adeniyi K. M., Alabi A. A., Odeyemi S. O., Shittu O. A.

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has become one of the most dynamic forces reinforcing world?s economic growth. This study compared proclivity for agripreneurship among final year undergraduates of agriculture and entrepreneurship in selected universities in southwestern Nigeria. Using purposive and random sampling techniques, four universities were selected from where one hundred and twenty (120) each, of final year undergraduates of agriculture and entrepreneurship were selected giving a total sample size of 240 respondents. Relevant data were obtained on respondents? socioeconomic characteristics and parental background, specific areas of agripreneurship interest and perceived constraints to agripreneurship. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means and chi-square. Results showed that undergraduates of agriculture were males (54.2%), single (96.7%) with mean age of 24 years and 75.8% had proclivity for agripreneurship with specific interests in poultry production: egg, meat and feed milling (67.5%) while undergraduates of entrepreneurship were males (48.3%), single (95.0%) with mean age of 23 years and 65.0% had proclivity for agripreneurship with 53.3% being specifically interested in poultry production. Undergraduates of agriculture ranked inadequate support infrastructure highest (1.90) as their perceived most severe constraints to agripreneurship while unfavourable government policies was ranked highest (1.74) among undergraduates of entrepreneurship. Relationships were found between undergraduates of agriculture?s course of study (?2=7.59) as well as mother?s discipline (?2=5.33) and proclivity for agripreneurship while gender (?2=5.83) and mother?s discipline (?2=22.34) were significantly related to proclivity for agripreneurship among undergraduates of entrepreneurship. Government should continue to provide necessary support infrastructures and formulate farmer friendly policies to achieve sustainable youth engagement in Agripreneurship.


Keywords: Proclivity, Entrepreneurship and Agripreneurship


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