Benefits derived by rural youths’ involvement in oil palm enterprise in Ido local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria
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Date
2018-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Journal of Rural Extension and Development
Abstract
The economic contribution of oil palm among the oil producing crop to the sustainable agricultural productivity
in Nigeria is high. This study assessed the benefits derived by rural youths’ involvement in oil palm processing
activities in Ido local government of Oyo state. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 120
respondents for the study. Data were collected via interview schedule on rural youth’s socio economic
characteristics, involvement in oil palm processing activities, support services needed and the benefits derived.
Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (Chi-square and PPMC) statistics. Results show that most
of the respondents were female (79.2%), married (63.3%) with mean age of 26 .6±5.53years. They had oil palm
processing as their primary occupation (87.5%) and used self labour (60.8%) with source funding being through
personal savings (83.3%). A mostly identified benefit was the supply of raw materials to industries (215.9),
engaging youths to prevent restiveness (214.2) and increased standard of living (209.8). More than half (52.2%)
of the respondents had low level of support services. The respondents’ involvement included crushing,
digestion, and heating of the fruit (195.9) and separation of endocarp from the kernel (192.4). Significant
relationship existed between involvement and sex (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.011), age (p=0.002) as well as
benefits derived (p=0.000). The benefits derived by the involved youth could be sustained with improved level
of the support services as they are strong enough to keep them in the enterprise.
Description
Keywords
Support services, Standard of living, Palm kernel, Sustainable agricultural productivity