Abstract

Abayomi A.A, Eniola V.N and Etoade W.F

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.