REQUISITE SKILLS NEEDED BY YOUTHS TO PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT IN LAND RECLAMATION FOR EMPOWERMENT IN AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT IN BENUE STATE.

Abstract

The study identified requisite skills needed by youths to partner with government in landreclamation for empowerment in agriculture and sustainable environment in Benue State. The study was guided by two research questions and two research hypotheses. Questionnaire survey design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 275 and a sample of 163 respondents was drawn from the population using Yaro Yamene formular. The instrument for the study was titled “Requisite Skills for Land Reclamation Questionnaire-RSLRQ” was validated by three experts for face and content validity. Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. A reliability coefficient of 0.86 was obtained. Two research assistants assisted in the administration of the questionnaire on the respondents. The 163 copies of the questionnaire were administered on the respondents and data collected were analyzed using means to answer research questions and t-test statistics to test the null hypotheses. The study identified 26 requisite skills for land reclamation for example identification of biodegradable waste, digging up of back-fill, compacting of back-fill. The study also identified 10 practices that can promote sustainable environment to include prevention of indiscriminate dumping of solid waste among others. T-test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance at degree of freedom of 161. The study recommended among others adoption of environmental friendly practices that promote environmental sustainability