A study on factors determining the choice of Agriculture professional career among the Students of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Ekiti State University, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the factors determining the choice of Agriculture professional career
among the Students of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Ekiti State University, Nigeria. A total of
160 randomly selected respondents were utilized for the study, while a structured interview schedule
was used to elicit information from them. Frequency counts and percentages, Likert scale, as well as,
Probit model were used in data analysis. The respondent’s ages ranged from 16 to 32 years with an
average of 19.5 years. They belonged to all the religion in the country. Majority of the males were from
farming families and had childhood homes in rural areas. Previous educational performance (mean =
2.53), career flexibility (mean 2.37), contacts/peer groups (mean = 2.35), work experience (mean = 2.28),
personal interest and by chance (mean = 2.11 respectively) and self employment influence the choice of
agriculture profession. Most of the respondents perceived agriculture as a stepping stone to other
professions, a poor man’s job and laborious. Barriers to continuing in the profession include, access to
financial resources and land, fear of crop/livestock failure, unpredictable future and psychological
problems. Probit model confirmed the significant relationship between previous educational
performance, work experience, contacts and economy in the choice of agriculture as a course and
profession among youths in the University. The study recommends early stimulation of students
interest in agriculture, award of scholarship to agriculture students and provision of grants to graduates
in agriculture who desire to embark on enterprises and tailoring school practical experiences towards
commercial agriculture.