Impact of Insecurity on Agripreneurship Development in Niger State, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of insecurity on agripreneurship development in Niger State, Nigeria, a region rich in agricultural potential but increasingly destabilized by violent conflicts. Agripreneurship, which blends agriculture with entrepreneurship, has been widely promoted as a driver of rural development, youth employment, and food security. Yet, persistent insecurity particularly banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping continues to disrupt farming activities, limit investments, and threaten the survival of agribusiness ventures. A survey research design was adopted, with data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 240 agripreneurs drawn via a multi-stage sampling technique from four Local Government Areas (Rafi, Shiroro, Kontagora, and Mariga) in Agricultural Zones II and III of Niger State. The questionnaire was subjected to expert review for content validity, while reliability was confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha test, which showed acceptable internal consistency. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and regression techniques. Results indicated that 87.1% of respondents had experienced insecurity, with 65% affected by banditry and 57.1% reporting loss of farm assets. Critical agribusiness elements such as income generation, land access, and business expansion were severely constrained, with mean scores of 4.3, 4.2, and 4.0, respectively. Regression analysis revealed a significant negative effect of insecurity on agripreneurs’ income (β = –0.482, p < 0.01), while access to markets and inputs showed positive and statistically significant impacts. Coping strategies included reducing farm size, diversifying income, and relying on community security groups, though institutional support was weak. The study concludes that integrated measures on security, infrastructure, and agricultural support are vital for sustaining agripreneurship. Enhancing resilience through better credit, input supply, and market access remains essential to protect livelihoods and promote rural development in conflict prone areas.