THE PROPENSITY OF FINAL YEAR UNDERGRADUATE AGRICULTURE STUDENTS TO BECOME AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN NIGERIA

Résumé

This study examined the factors influencing the willingness of final year undergraduate agriculture students to become agricultural entrepreneurs after graduation using a sample of final year agricultural students in four tertiary institutions in south-west Nigeria. Data were obtained through structured questionnaire. Results indicate that fifty-one percent of the students had aspirations for other things apart from agriculture as a profession after graduation. Reasons given for lack of interest in the practice of agriculture include inaccessible agricultural funds, labour-intensive nature of farming in the country and perceived low profitability of agricultural enterprises. Factors which had significant effects on the probability that a final year agricultural student would become an agricultural entrepreneur after graduation include the first choice course on admission to tertiary institution, parents' level of education and the person who made the final decision for a student to study agriculture in the tertiary institution. Students who had agriculture as the first choice course during admission into tertiary institution are more (0.78) likely to become entrepreneurs in agriculture after graduation. Students whose parent/parents had tertiary education are (0.59) less likely to become agricultural entrepreneurs. Students who personally made the decision to study agriculture are (0.78) less likely to become agricultural entrepreneurs. This implies that the students are not good decision makers in relation to career choice and thus need guidance when choosing their course of study. This will ensure that only interested students study agriculture with a view of becoming agricultural entrepreneurs after graduation thus helping the nation attain food self-sufficiency.

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