Does growth enhancement support scheme (GESS) contribute to youth development in informal farm entrepreneurship? Evidence from rural communities in Nigeria
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 1 February 2021
Issue publication date: 21 June 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impact of a growth enhancement support scheme (GESS) on youth development in informal farm entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the GESS on rural youths’ adoption of new technologies needed to sustainably increase food security in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional, describing and interpreting the current situation. A total of 800 rural youths were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Findings
The result from the use of a bivariate probit model indicates that the GESS has a significant impact on rural youths’ innovations in farming.
Practical implications
This suggests that information and communication technology could provide new opportunities for making farming more interesting and enterprising for rural young people.
Social implications
It implies that while old male and female farmers are less likely to adopt the new farming technologies needed to achieve Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda (ATA), a younger generation can help introduce new technologies, while also learning from traditional methods.
Originality/value
This research adds to the literature on informal farm entrepreneurship and rural communities’ debate in developing countries. It concludes that engaging youths in GESS should form the foundation of the ATA in Nigeria, which, in turn, would offer adequate combination of new and traditional solution to address the challenges of food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to the editor and reviewers for constructive comments.
Disclosure statement: This manuscript has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. Funding was provided by the authors. There is no potential conflict of interest reported by the authors.
Citation
Uduji, J.I., Okolo-Obasi, E.N. and Asongu, S.A. (2021), "Does growth enhancement support scheme (GESS) contribute to youth development in informal farm entrepreneurship? Evidence from rural communities in Nigeria", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 451-476. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-06-2020-0116
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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