FACTORS AFFECTING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN MICRO AND SMALL AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES IN DALOCHA WOREDA, SILTE ZONE CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT In Central Ethiopia, a rural job creation initiative is gaining momentum by actively involving young people in various agricultural activities through the establishment of groups and cooperatives particularly since 2015. Despite the vast employment opportunities in agriculture, young people often shy away from pursuing careers in the sub-sector. Hence this study was intended to identify factors affecting youth participation in micro and small agricultural enterprises in Silte zone of Central Ethiopia region. To attain this objective both primary and secondary data were employed. The primary data were generated from 73 non micro and small agricultural enterprises participant and from 131 micro and small agricultural enterprises participant youths, totally from 204 sample youths. In addition, data from focus group discussion was also generated using check list. The binary probit model was used to identify factors affecting youth participation in micro and small agricultural enterprises. The result of the study reveals that gender, age, education, annual income, land availability, awareness creation and training, initial saving, weak institutional capacity, lack of commitment, loan delay, and extension service contact were found to be significantly affecting youth participation in micro and small agricultural enterprises. The study suggested that strengthen the financial capability of youth by providing enough amount of credit without initial saving is a strategy to increases youth participation in micro and small agricultural enterprises. The government should create awareness or information about micro and small agricultural enterprises for the youths.