Factors affecting youth participation in the agribusiness sector in Ntungamo District

Abstract

The Ugandan population is to a large extent comprised of young people where close to 78 percent of the population is below the age of thirty. The study assessed the factors affecting youth participation in agribusiness in Ntungamo district using data collected from youth participating in the agribusiness sector and those that do not participate. The logistic model was used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that agribusiness plays great role in employing people, but the youth are challenged by many problems in agribusiness. Limited access to land, inadequate access to credit services, management challenges backwardness of agricultural tools, and attitudinal problems are some of the challenges for youth involvement and advancement in agribusiness. The study also revealed that most youths have no valuable assets, have a negative attitude towards agriculture and consider agribusiness to be for the rural poor and those that are not successful in education. Therefore, access to credit should be improved, training the youth about agribusiness sector, improving market access, change of attitude towards agribusiness sector by the youth are recommended to improve the participation of youth in agribusiness.