Abstract

Youth possess regenerative energies, intelligence and capabilities for sustainable development. Despite the huge resources expended on youth-directed programmes under the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) by successive government administrations towards realizing the foregoing potentials in Nigeria, youth participation in Ebonyi State ADP is minimal . The youth do not seem to be effectively mobilized in such a way that could motivate them to actively participate in agricultural production and rural development process being implemented by the ADP. In this regard, this study investigated mobilization of youth under the ADP in Ebonyi State and highlighted implications for participatory agricultural transformation and rural development process in Nigeria. Two hundred and forty youths were randomly selected constituted the sample size for the study. Structured interview schedule was employed in data collection; frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and factor analysis techniques were adopted for data analysis. The findings show that majority (61.25%) of the youth were males, while 75.0 percent were within the ages of 16 and 25 years. Furthermore, some significant mobilization strategies of the ADPs include, organizing competition between youth organizations (x = 4.5) and excursion for the youth (x = 4.3). Specific mobilization constraints include, lack of basic infrastructure, poor socio-economic conditions and inadequate leadership. The study highlighted implications on improved extension services, improved youth group efforts and improved budgetary allocation. In conclusion, mobilization of youth under the Ebonyi State ADP for participatory agricultural transformation and rural development in Nigeria depends on the extent issues raised as constraints and implications thereof highlighted can be addressed.

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