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Rural youths are the future of India's progress in agriculture. In order to keep the interest of youths in agriculture and maintain their sustainable livelihoods, ICAR through its Agricultural Extension division has implemented Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) programme through different identified KVKs in the country. Five KVKs from Odisha have been implementing this programme, out of which present research carried out in the Puri KVK in the year 2022, where the ARYA project has been focusing on four enterprises i.e., mushroom, poultry, apiary, fish production including fish seed with a total of 174 rural youths. After the implementation of ARYA, among the five enterprises promoted under ARYA, the performance of the mushroom enterprise gave the highest net income and highest average production. On the other hand benefit-cost ratio was higher in fishery enterprises. Various economic performance indicators showed a positive and significant relation with the social profile of the rural youths. The implementation of programme brought the convergence of several institutions to render technical support to rural youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With evidence of increasing investment in youth agribusiness empowerment programs across Africa, employment discussions and strategies are increasingly focusing on how youth-owned agribusinesses can facilitate long-term job creation and contribute to revitalizing rural economies in the coming years. In light of these changing employment dynamics, we assessed the evolving role of youth and small agribusinesses in employment creation in rural areas. Further, we assessed the impact of agribusiness empowerment programs in unlocking the job creation capacity of young agribusiness owners, taking evidence from the youth component of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, Empowering Novel Agribusiness-Led Employment (ENABLE) implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. A total of 1435 respondents, comprising 737 participants and 698 non-participants were surveyed across the three countries. An Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was used to identify factors that determined program participation, and factors influencing job creation, and assess the program's impact on job creation. The results validate our assumption of changing employment dynamics in the rural areas where youth-owned small agribusinesses hired an average of 4 employees. The ESR results show the significance of the program on the job creation capacity of participants across the three countries. Also, we found that non-participants could potentially increase their job creation capacity if they had participated in the program. Factors that influence job creation include socio-economic, such as age and marital status, business attributes including agribusiness experience, business level, income, and access to land. These results indicate that continuous concerted efforts on agribusiness empowerment will have a notable impact in generating more jobs and reducing the rates of unemployment, particularly among young people. Thus, more investment should be directed towards empowering young people in agribusiness in the study countries, and elsewhere in Africa.

This article reflects on the production of accumulated knowledge about rural youth in Brazil. The corpus delimited for the investigative process consists of five review studies on the issue in question (SPOSITO, 2002; 2009; CASTRO et al., 2009; WEISHEIMER, 2005; COSTA; MOREIRA, 2018). This is bibliographical research, whose production, systematization, treatment, and analysis of data allow us to state that, among the studies that address youth, the focus on rural youth is not very expressive. The results showed that the theme of youth is studied in an interdisciplinary approach, which calls into question the homogenization of young people and that there is a tendency that persists in affirming and reaffirming that young people are subjects in transition, indeterminate, who live in the "come to be", because they are not children, and neither are adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural youths in China face very limited life opportunities. Urban-biased educational policies have resulted in an unappealing school environment, where rural students become 'invisible dropouts' who physically attend school but have already mentally disengaged. Invoking the Birmingham School's class-based analyses of youths' cultural production, we examine how middle school students in rural Zouping, Shandong Province, engage the smart phone video-sharing app Kuaishou to realize their dreams of upward socio-economic mobility as Internet 'micro-celebrities' (Senft, T. (2008). Camgirls: Celebrity and community in the age of social media. New York: Peter Lang). These students produce a sub-culture centered on the figure of the shehui ren ('society man') and his associated values of brute strength and supporting one's family. We maintain that in an increasingly neoliberal China where family wealth once again conditions social reproduction and the upward social mobility that education affords, the shehui ren criticizes the widening income gap by highlighting alternate venues of socio-economic advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas are struggling with youth mobility to urban centers. We address this challenge by testing the interplay between objective factors underlying mobility, namely socio-economic status indicators, and subjective factors, specifically Place Attachment (PA) and Future Time Perspective (FTP), and how they connect with the returning intentions of university students with a rural background after their graduation. We also explore how the connections between these variables vary across gender. Our study involved 337 university students (M = 21.55; SD = 2.48; 63.50% female) enrolled in tertiary education in mainland Portugal. The participants were from The Azores Islands, a remote and mostly rural Portuguese region. Using a Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) approach, we found that greater PA significantly improved their prospects of returning, rather than greater expected monthly income 3 years after graduation. However, these trends were only relevant among young women. Our findings indicate the need to strengthen youth civic engagement policies, as well as new youth employment packages that diversify the transition from education to the labor market or better match local resources with more promising and rewarding careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the nature and role of the Youth Skill Development Loans (YSDL) in the generation of livelihoods activities for the youth community of Bangladesh under the Women's Empowerment and Livelihood Development "Nuton Jibon". The study is significant for a couple of reasons. First, our literature review shows a dearth of research on the youth beneficiaries of the project. Second, there is a 'youth bulge' in Bangladesh, a developing economy experiencing the demographic dividend. The default issue in the YSDL is largely ignored. We have, therefore, examined the YSDL utilization status of 105 youths by using the logit model. The results reveal that the size of the loan, due amount of payment and education are significant factors to determine whether the youth would be a loan defaulter or regular payer. In essence, it is vital to enhance the overall capacities and skills of the rural youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first oil well was drilled in Nigeria, traditional economies have suffered neglect, and rural youths do not see a future for themselves in traditional industries livelihood (TIL). We examine the impact of corporate social responsibility of multinational oil companies on youths' participation in TIL. A total of 1200 youths were sampled across the rural Niger Delta. Results from the use of a logit model indicate a significant relationship between corporate social responsibility and TIL. The findings suggest increased general memorandum of understanding interventions in canoe carving, pottery making, cloth weaving, mat making and basket weaving to revive the traditional economic activities in Nigeria. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of rural and farm adolescents regarding hearing conservation strategies. This qualitative study took place at two high schools in rural Michigan. Twenty-five adolescents living and working on farms or living in rural areas participated in one of two focus groups. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analyzed by two researchers and checked by an additional researcher to ensure reliability. Noise exposure was ubiquitous among participants, both in farm-related (e.g., equipment, livestock) and non-farm-related (e.g., music, firearms) activities. Perceived barriers to use of hearing protection devices outweighed perceived benefits, resulting in uncommon use of protection. When hearing protection was used, it was usually earmuffs or earplugs. Participants indicated a lack of training in noise hazards and protective strategies. Despite their acknowledged risk of hearing loss, participants did not associate their use of hearing protection today with their hearing ability later in life. Categories emerging that relate to hearing protector use included: Barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, situational influences, impersonal influences, cues to action, susceptibility, and severity. Farm and rural adolescents are at risk for noise exposure and hearing loss. The findings stress the significance of work environment and adult modeling in facilitating hearing conservation behaviors. As indicated by the youths′ recommendations, school-based interventions may be an effective approach to address this health concern. Intervention studies are needed to test various approaches that can effectively promote use of hearing conservation strategies among rural and farm adolescents.

This study assessed rural youth's adoption of cassava production technologies in Southwestern, Nigeria and determined the extent of usage of the technologies among them. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 135 respondents. A well structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the average age of rural youths that were engaging in cassava production in the study area was 29 ± 2.6 years with average farm size of 2.5 ± 0.3 hectares. Also, household size (r = 0.249; P ≤ 0.01) and extent of usage of the technologies (r = 0.363, p ≤ 0.01) shows significant relationship with level of adoption of the technologies at 0.01 while age (r = 0.097; P ≤ 0.05) and years of former education (r = 0.181; P ≤ 0.05) were significant at 0.05. It was concluded that the extent of usage of the technologies in the communities affect the rate of adoption positively and this might enhance the positive perception of youths on cassava production thereby ensure food security in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified the various farming activities carried out by Nigerian youths and documented emerging trends in their involvement in agriculture with a view to ascertaining their level of involvement in adding value to agricultural produce in Akoko South-West local government area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 120 youths in 12 communities within the LGA through a questionnaire and interview schedule. A Binary logistic regression was used to make inferences. The results showed that the mean age of the youths was 34±11 years and the mean annual income was ₦265,280.00±21.159. The youths were found to be involved in both crop and animal production, with about 52.7 per cent having a high level of involvement. The majority (97.4%) of them were only involved in the production of crops and animals; only 32.8 per cent and 15.7 per cent were involved in packaging and adding value to produce, respectively. It was observed that the youths with a secondary education (b = -1.76) and a first degree (b = -1.609) had a negative disposition towards agriculture; only those with a diploma education (b = 1.609) had a favourable disposition towards agriculture. It was concluded that youth involvement in agriculture is taking on a new dimension in terms of value addition and packaging. It is therefore recommended that educational institution curricula should be tailored in line with global practices in agriculture in order for Nigeria to become self-sufficient in food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of rural and farm adolescents regarding hearing conservation strategies. This qualitative study took place at two high schools in rural Michigan. Twenty-five adolescents living and working on farms or living in rural areas participated in one of two focus groups. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analyzed by two researchers and checked by an additional researcher to ensure reliability. Noise exposure was ubiquitous among participants, both in farm-related (e.g., equipment, livestock) and non-farm-related (e.g., music, firearms) activities. Perceived barriers to use of hearing protection devices outweighed perceived benefits, resulting in uncommon use of protection. When hearing protection was used, it was usually earmuffs or earplugs. Participants indicated a lack of training in noise hazards and protective strategies. Despite their acknowledged risk of hearing loss, participants did not associate their use of hearing protection today with their hearing ability later in life. Categories emerging that relate to hearing protector use included: Barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, situational influences, impersonal influences, cues to action, susceptibility, and severity. Farm and rural adolescents are at risk for noise exposure and hearing loss. The findings stress the significance of work environment and adult modeling in facilitating hearing conservation behaviors. As indicated by the youths' recommendations, school-based interventions may be an effective approach to address this health concern. Intervention studies are needed to test various approaches that can effectively promote use of hearing conservation strategies among rural and farm adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youths are a formidable force in the agricultural production process, constituting a sizeable proportion of future progressive farmers and better citizens, especially in the rural areas. While their contribution towards attaining food security cannot be underestimated, their apparent lukewarm attitude towards agriculture is a source of concern and challenge to the development of agricultural extension. This study investigates rural youths’ involvement in agricultural production activities in Delta Central Agricultural Zone of Delta State. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire from 88 youths in the study area. Data analyses were through the use of percentages, means and correlation coefficient. Findings from the study showed that more than half (64.8%) of the youths were resident in rural areas and are mainly farmers (52.3%) involved mostly in arable crop production (69.3%). A greater percentage of the respondents (69.3%) expressed unfavourable attitude towards agriculture. Attitude correlates positively and significantly with participation in agricultural production activities (r=0.435) and influenced youths interest in agricultural activities. The need to provide social amenities and infrastructures that will make the youths live and work in the rural areas is emphasized. Also there is need to stimulate youths’ interest in agriculture through effective rural youth agricultural extension programmes.

As the pluralisation of spheres of life emerged, qualitative research became more relevant to study social relations. In an attempt to recognise the potential of the documentary method and of participatory research for the study of issues concerning the social and educational experiences of subjects, this article proposes to present conceptual and methodological frameworks of both approaches. Initially we explain the historical context of participatory research and also present the frameworks of reference of this approach. Then we discuss the documentary method developed in Germany since the 1980s based on Karl Mannheim's sociology of knowledge. Furthermore the authors describe the ethnographic route of two experiments in research with young Brazilians in different socio-spatial contexts. These experiments were guided by the assumptions of the documentary method, but also by principles that establish points in common with the assumptions of participatory research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated perceived production needs and socioeconomic factors affecting the sustainability of the participation of rural youth in crop farming in Ogun State, Nigeria. A structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from 353 rural young people involved in crop farming, who were randomly and proportionately selected across 8 farming communities. The results showed that farm inputs were the greatest production need. Credit facilities, subsidy of farm inputs, incentives, recognition on the job, provision of a drinkable water supply, and an electricity supply were the major needs driving rural young people's sustained participation in crop farming. Significant relationships also existed between production needs and some of the characteristics of rural youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at assessing rural youth participation in agriculture, their access to production resources and services and the effects of youths' access to inputs and services on farm productivity and youths' welfare. The study was conducted in three states (each randomly selected from the three agro-ecological zones of northern Nigeria). Two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with high agricultural potential were randomly selected from each state. Because of the similarity in physical and socio-economic characteristics of rural communities, three villages were randomly selected from each LGA, and six youths from each village. Thus three states, six LGAs, 18 villages and 108 rural youths were the sample frame for the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 79% of rural youths were involved in agricultural activities for subsistence and sale. Over 62% of youths earned between N10,000.00-N50,000.00 per annum ($68.96-$344.82) from agricultural activities. Only 2.8% of youths reported that inputs were readily available in their communities. According to the youths, marketing of farm produce was associated with numerous problems, including low prices (59.3%), bad road network (37%) and poor/lack of storage facilities (13%). In spite of these challenges, youths have assets such as good literacy levels (50%) and access to agricultural information among others. In terms of food security, 70% of youths reported that they had adequate stock of food to feed on throughout the year, while 30% said they did not have enough stock for the year, leading to hunger. The implication of the findings is that youths should be given the necessary orientation/training on agricultural production, which should be backed up with production resources and services to enable the youths to embark on agricultural activities in a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Norwegian settlement pattern has been characterized by centralization over recent decades, in particular due to many young people leaving the countryside. In contemporary rural migration research their rural-to-urban migration has been interpreted as reflections of strong urban residential preferences; rural youths want to seek out the cities and their manifold educational, occupational and cultural offers. Special attention has been given to gender- and lifestyle-related differences; rural girls are assumed less localistic in their mindsets than boys and there are similar differences between groups of rural youths leading different lifestyles. The article critically assesses these propositions by use of survey data gathered among rural youths in the Mountain Region (Fjellregionen) of mid-eastern Norway. Employing a life phase approach, the article concludes that rural youths may have strong urban residential preferences for their ‘young adult’ phase; however, for other phases of life rural youths are less likely to hold urban preferences. Further, the analysis confirms gender and lifestyle differences in rural youth's residential preferences, though these nevertheless seem to be over-emphasized in contemporary rural migration research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence exposure among rural youths is a significant public health problem, yet little research has been conducted on violence in this setting. This study explored rural youths' direct and indirect experience of violence in the neighborhood, school, and home. The author used hierarchical regression analyses to explore youth violence exposure, aggressive behaviors, mental health symptoms, attitudes toward guns and violence, and community poverty level, measured by percentage of free and reduced-price lunch, at four different southeastern Ohio schools. Results indicated that higher levels of poverty are significantly related to higher levels of direct exposure to violence in school, and to dissociation, damaging property of others, and some measures of violence proneness. Responses to violence exposure at the community, school, and individual practitioner level are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study discussed in this article investigated the relationship between access to firearms and parental monitoring on rural youths' exposure to gun violence and examined the effect of gun violence exposure on the mental health of these youths. A survey was administered to rural students who participated in a student assistance program (n = 162) that provided in-school support groups for students in grades 6 through 12. Results indicated that a substantial number of students were exposed to gun violence and exposure was significantly related to firearm access and parental monitoring. Furthermore, gun violence exposure was significantly associated with trauma among the youths. Implications for social workers include advising high-risk clients and their families on gun removal and safe storage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]