EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN PIG PRODUCTION FOR JOB CREATION AMONG YOUTH IN BENUE STATE FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study examined the employment opportunities in pig production for job creation in agriculture among youth in Benue State for national development. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Survey research design was used for the study. The entire population of 175 respondents was studied. A 40-item structuredEmployment Opportunities in Pig Production Questionnaire (EOPPQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and a coefficient of 0.81 was obtained. A total of 175 copies of the questionnaire were administered but only 172 copies were retrieved and analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t – test. It was found out that 11 employment opportunities exist in pig production, youths encounter 17 challenges on employment in pig production and 12 strategies for improving youth’s employment in pig production were identified. It was therefore recommended that Job skills required for employment in the identified areas of employment in pig production should be utilized by extension agents and skills acquisition centres for capacity building of youths in Benue State. Government should empower youth with grants and materials to go into self employed ventures in pig production, and the findings of this study should be made public and available to unemployed youths by the government through the state agricultural extension services and media to create awareness to youth on employment opportunities in pig production for job creation.