Factors influencing youth’s participation in agricultural marketing co-operative societies in Ruangwa district, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper investigated factors influencing youth’s participation in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Ruangwa District, Tanzania with reference to Mandawa and Mbekenyera AMCOS. Specifically, the study sought to examine youth perception in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies as an organisation for poverty reduction; Data were collected through individual surveys. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 184 youths who were selected randomly from two AMCOS. The objective was analysed descriptively using Likert scale to measure youth’s perception in Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies. Perception among respondents was measured by developing perception Index (PI). The findings confirm that youth had positive perception on AMCOS toward poverty reduction. This implies that, youth agreed that AMCOS is the best strategy for them to develop and improve their productivity due to the market accessibility and stable price as a result of AMCOS interventions. The study recommends that the government should assist in creating ready markets and facilitating linkages to other markets for agricultural produce. This will encourage the youths to participate in farming activities since they are assured of making sales and increasing their profits which will contribute to improved income to youth and join AMCOS.