Aspiration of educated unemployed youth for self-employment in agriculture and allied fields

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the Aspiration of educated unemployed youth for self-employment in agriculture and allied fields. Following accidental sampling procedure, 120 educated unemployed youth of the Attingal Agricultural sub division, Thiruvananthapuram District, were interviewed so as to assess their profile characteristics, extent of participation in agriculture and allied fields, aspiration, preference for self-employment in agriculture and allied fields, their training needs and to suggest a suitable training strategy for them. The data were statistically analysed and verified the hypotheses. Regarding their profile characteristics, majority of the youth were at the later adoloscent stage, having education from S.S.L.C to Pre-degree level, annual income of family was high, farm size was less than one hectare, had farming experience up to three years, had no social participation, having low extension agency contact, high exposure to mass media, more favourable attitude towards self-employment in agriculture and allied fields and their leisure-time activities were in relation to agriculture. Majority of the respondents had medium to high level of participation in agriculture and allied fields. Farm size, farming experience, extension agency contact. Mass media exposure and attitude towards self-employment in agriculture and allied fields had positive and significant relationship with extent of participation in agriculture and allied fields at one percent level. Majority of the respondents aspired for getting higher income in their profession followed by getting a Govt. job and developing farm. Majority of the respondents had preferred vegetable production and plant nursery management as their self-employment avenues. Extent of participation in agriculture and allied fields had significant association with preference for self - employment in agriculture and allied fields and aspiration of youth. Preference for self - employment in agriculture and allied fields had significant association with training need. There was significant difference between male and female in training need and aspiration. In the case of vegetable production, “selection and production of good quality seeds” was perceived as the most training need area. In the case of plant nursery management “control of pests and diseases” was perceived as the most training need area. Majority of the respondents had preferred peripatetic training with long term duration during summer months. Krishibhavan was the venue of the training and ‘demonstration’ was the most preferred methodology of training.