Agricultural knowledge and youth participation in agriculture and agribusiness in an African context

Abstract

This study examines youths’ decision to participate in agriculture and agribusiness from an agricultural knowledge lens. Data collected from 520 respondents across Ghana were analysed descriptively and inferentially. The results show the influence of different levels of science-based (objective) agricultural knowledge on youths’ participation in agriculture and agribusiness, in addition to subject knowledge. Similarly, the findings reveal that gender, having family and friends engaged in agriculture, and participating in capacity-building training influence youths’ participation in agriculture and agribusiness. Agricultural experience, age, and education significantly shape objective agricultural knowledge. The policy implications of these findings are discussed and strategies for promoting the acquisition of objective knowledge and scaling up youths’ participation in agriculture and agribusiness are provided.