The Usage of Social Media in Engaging Youths in Agricultural Development in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Agriculture is the engine of growth for most developing countries like Nigeria and agricultural development is one of the most effective ways to alleviate hunger and poverty in a country (Amungwa and Baye, 2014).Agriculture has remained one of the top and widely profitable business sectors not only in Nigeria but in the world at large (Adelanke, 2019).It provides employment opportunities for the teeming population, eradicates poverty and contributes to the growth of the economy (Agwu, Nwankwo and Anyanwu, 2014).Of all the sectors of the Nigerian economy, agriculture possesses the greatest potential for playing a leading role in making Nigeria a self-reliant nation.This is true because agriculture provides food, employment opportunities, earns foreign exchange and generates considerable revenue for Nigeria (Anaeto, Asiabaka and Okoroma, 2015).Thus, the importance of the agricultural sector in generating employment and stimulating overall economic development in a developing country such as Nigeria cannot be undermined (Ogbalubi and Wokocha, 2013).In spite of the agricultural sector"s vibrancy in providing income-generating opportunities for youth, agriculture is still left to the elderly or uneducated youths (Okiror and Otabong, 2015).This has led to decline in agricultural output and the overall contribution of the sector to the economy and affected Nigeria"s perception of the place and role of agriculture in national development considerably over time (Adigun, Bamiro and Oyetoki,2017).As a result, achieving a balance between food and population growth is a serious problem in Nigeria today in Nigeria (Anaeto, Asiabaka, and Okoroma, Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the usage of social media in engaging youths in agriculture in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as a solution to youth engagement in agriculture and unemployment problems in Nigeria.The broad objective of this study was to assess the usage of social media in engaging the youths in agricultural development in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.Also other specific objectives include: ascertain the type of social media platforms that are mostly used by youths in agriculture for accessing agricultural information in the study area; ascertain various benefits of social media in farm activities; and identify the challenges encountered by youth farmers in the use of social media for agricultural information among youth in agriculture.A sample of three hundred and sixty youths in agriculture was randomly selected through the multi-stage sampling techniques in the study area.The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and focused group discussion (FGD).The utility theory was adopted for the study.The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and log it regression model.Data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS).Results of the log it regression analysis carried out to establish the social-economic factors that significantly influence the usage of social media by youth in agriculture showed that the independent variables studied accounted for a co-efficient of multiple determination of 0.510 (51.0%).The findings revealed that the youths in agriculture accessed one or more social media platform and the mostly used social media platform among the youths in agricultural in the study area is whats App (23.7%).The findings also revealed that youths in agriculture benefitted from using social media to acquire agricultural information.Among the most common constraints faced by youths in the study area were: poor electricity, high cost of computer, no Internet and power outages.The findings recommended the need to incorporate agricultural information packages on social media platforms.Also, social media platforms should be deployed by agricultural service providers as part of their communication plan in promoting youth's participation in agriculture.