Agricultural Journal
ISSN: Online 1994-4616ISSN: Print 1816-9155
Abstract
Child welfare proponents consider early engagement in agricultural labour as one of the most challenging activities for children`s involvement as it exposes them to hazards that may hamper their development, which limits their prospects in life. The study therefore determined effects of children`s involvement in agriculture on their education in south western Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 540 children aged 5-14 years from fifty percent of the six south west states (Ogun, Osun and Ondo) using a structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. Study findings revealed majority of children were males (76.5%) with mean age of 12years involved in harvesting (86.9%), weeding (82.4%) and planting (74.6%). Mean of 7 h was spent in agricultural activities weekly. There was high enrollment (98.7%) in formal educational institutions. All had opportunity to study at home, 46.9% went late to school and 25.8% were absent from school at least once monthly. Children educational activities were negatively and significantly correlated with their level of involvement in agriculture: study time (r = -0.44, p<0.05), punctuality (r = -0.32, p<0.05) and absenteeism (r = -0.44, p<0.05). It was thus recommended that farmers should be enlightened to be concerned on how to involve children in agriculture on a sustainable basis.
How to cite this article:
O.O. Fasina and A.E. Adekoya . Effects of Children Involvement in Agriculture on Their Education in Southwest Nigeria.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/aj.2007.27.30
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1816-9155/aj.2007.27.30