Determinant of University Students’ Choices and Preferences of Agricultural Sub-Sector Engagement in Cameroon

Cynthia J. Mkong, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Paul Martin Dontsop-Nguezet, Zoumana Bamba, Victor Manyong and Godlove Shu
Additional contact information
Cynthia J. Mkong: Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Buea, P.O. BOX 63, Buea, Cameroon
Tahirou Abdoulaye: Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), B.P. 320, Bamako, Mali
Paul Martin Dontsop-Nguezet: Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kalemie, Democratic 570, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zoumana Bamba: Country Representative, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kinshasa, Democratic 4163, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Victor Manyong: Social Science and Agribusiness, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. BOX 34441, Dar es Salam, Tanzania
Godlove Shu: Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Buea, P.O. BOX 63, Buea, Cameroon

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: Although the agri-food sector has a huge potential to offer attractive employment opportunities for Africa’s burgeoning youth, a negative perception of agriculture persists among Cameroonian youths, such as in many other African countries. The paper assesses the determinants of university students’ choices and preferences for agricultural sub-sector engagement in Cameroon. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 550 students from two state universities. We used the SWOT analysis to evaluate students’ perceptions of challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector in Cameroon, the binomial probit analysis to assess the determinants of students’ choices of agriculture as a university major, and an ordered probit analysis to evaluate the determinants of students’ preferences of agricultural sub-sector engagement. Findings reveal that choice of agriculture as a university major is significantly determined by sex, pre-university farming experience, pre-university academic background, mother’s level of education, and household income. Likewise, preference of agricultural sub-sector engagement is significantly determined by the student’s level of study and location of a childhood home. Improving the attractiveness of, and working conditions in, the agricultural sector could increase youth engagement in agribusiness and rural economic activities. The results also reinforce the need to increase household income in Cameroon, as this could lift families out of poverty and offer them more economic opportunities. Policies that regulate levels of education can equally be used to allocate human resources into different agricultural sub-sectors, subject to felt needs.

Keywords: youth; agriculture; university student; choice; preference; sub-sector engagement; Cameroon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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