Benefits derived by rural youths’ involvement in oil palm enterprise in Ido local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria

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.