Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Farmer Field School Participation has emerged as a critical factor shaping youth participation in agriculture across organizations operating in and around Edo State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how farmer field school participation relates to youth participation in agriculture has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Edo State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on farmer field school participation, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with youth participation in agriculture, particularly within Edo State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about farmer field school participation without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect youth participation in agriculture. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Farmer Field School Participation on youth participation in agriculture in Edo State.
2. To assess the extent to which farmer field school participation influences youth participation in agriculture within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with farmer field school participation in relation to youth participation in agriculture.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing farmer field school participation in order to improve youth participation in agriculture.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of farmer field school participation on youth participation in agriculture in Edo State?
2. To what extent does farmer field school participation influence youth participation in agriculture within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with farmer field school participation in relation to youth participation in agriculture?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize farmer field school participation in order to improve youth participation in agriculture?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around youth participation in agriculture. For managers and practitioners within Edo State, the study provides practical insight into how farmer field school participation can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on agricultural extension and rural development by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Edo State, focusing specifically on how farmer field school participation relates to youth participation in agriculture within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.