Analysis of Impact of Fadama III project on Youth Livelihood Choice in Rural Areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria

B.Sc. Abdullahi Yusuf, BA (Hons)

Master's thesis

Abstract:

National Fadama Development Project was initiated against the backdrop of agricultural production and general inability of previous agricultural policies to address poverty in rural areas of Nigeria. The study investigates the impact of Fadama III project on youth access to land and choice of farming occupation in the study area. The study adopted multiple sampling techniques in a multi-stage sampling process to select the study communities and respondents. A total of 720 youth (between 18 -35 years) in a ratio of 360 Fadama III project beneficiaries,360 non-beneficiaries, and 54 elders (older than 44 years) were surveyed in 18 communities. The data were collected through structured questionnaires and personal interviews which were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-square result shows significant difference at 1% between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries on ownership of land while the t-test result indicates no significant difference between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries on land size. Lack of fund, non-availability of land, high cost of purchasing and renting land, reliant on inheritance were perceived by both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries as the most severe constraints for youth access to land in the study area. The logistic result explores, gender, age, household size, fathers’ occupation, ownership of land and access to Fadama III project benefits to have positive effect on youth choice of farming occupation while years of education has negative effect on youth choice of farming occupation. The study recommends the improvement of the project to aid youth to access land and making policies that will bring educated youth in to farming occupation.

Keywords

Fadama III project, Rural youth, Land, Farming occupation, Bauchi, Nigeria

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 2. 5. 2019

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Jana Mazancová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Lukáš Zagata, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics