Youth Participation in Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

Food security has been a source of concern globally. The paper underscores the need to promote youth participation in agriculture as a gateway towards achieving sustainable food security particularly in South-East, Nigeria. It proposes that by integrating youth perspectives and capabilities into agricultural practices, Nigeria can pave the way for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural future. These young people can bring new ideas and technologies to agriculture, leading to more food being produced. The paper is grounded in empowerment theory. It also discusses the impacts of youth participation in agriculture and their roles in achieving sustainable food security in Nigeria. The challenges confronting youth participation in agriculture were highlighted. The paper further examined the strategies as a way forward to enhance effective youth participation in agriculture for food sustainability. These include: changing the perception of people towards agriculture as a low pay and unattractive career, government to increase access to resources such as land, microloan and grants to support the youth, government to create jobs and empower the youth, among others. The paper concluded that by overcoming the challenges and adopting the proposed strategies, Nigerian youth can become active participants in securing the nation’s food supply.