Assessing the factors motivating Agricultural Teachers towards exposing their students to Agricultural Production as Source of Livelihood; Case study of Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The importance of agricultural production to Nigeria’s economy cannot be overemphasized. Several researchers have proposed various techniques towards quantifying the effects of agricultural production on our economy, but the factors motivating agricultural teachers into exposing young students to the practical aspect of agricultural production has not been discussed. To address this, this research assessed the factors motivating agricultural teachers towards exposing their students to agricultural production as source of livelihood: Case study of Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Data was collected using well-structured questionnaire and interview. The study involved 5 HODs and 25 teachers selected using purposive sampling technique and simple random sampling technique respectively. Data were analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, whereas content analysis techniques were used to analyze qualitative data collected using interview schedules. The analyzed data were presented in form of tables, pie-charts and bar-graphs where applicable. At the end of the study, it was revealed that the teaching experience of a high percentage of the respondents ranged between 16-20 years. It was indicated that the respondents were satisfied with their job. A higher percentage of the respondents were involved in agricultural production either subsistence or commercial. It was shown that only a few percentages of the respondents had 6-10 years farming experience. However, among other methods of land acquisition, the land acquisition by inheritance was mostly adopted by the respondents. Most of the respondents were active members of a farmers’ association, and they have passion for agricultural production, hence, planned to continue in the practice as a primary source of livelihood after retirement from teaching profession. It was gathered that various factors like supervision, leadership, work environment condition, perceived fairness in promotion system and promotion opportunities elsewhere affects job satisfaction. The study discovered that most of the respondents are into crop farming as a secondary means of livelihood and eighty (80) percent of the teachers are willing to expose their students into agricultural production as a source of livelihood, which will eventually alleviate poverty and reduce the search for white collar jobs in Nigeria.