Agricultural Market Access and Economic Participation of Youth in Agricultural Entrepreneurship for sustainable livelihood in Bayelsa State

The study examined agricultural market access and economic participation of youth in agricultural entrepreneurship for sustainable livelihood in Bayelsa State. The study employed a descriptive research survey design. Two objectives, two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses that were formulated and tested at significance level of 0.05 guided the study. The population of the study was 580, 216 (580,074 youth and 142 extension agents) respondents. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 413 youth and extension agents (360 youth and 53 extension agents). The instrument for data collection was a structured Questionnaire designed in 4-point rating scale. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and three other experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Coefficient method which yielded a reliability index of 0.85 and 0.88. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The study revealed that creating agricultural market access and policies for economic participation of youth in agricultural entrepreneurship would encourage sustainable livelihood in the study area. The study recommended among others that government and other NGOs should be engaged in initiatives which support policy processes that explicitly include youth as locus of actions related to well-being, and food security. This will give youth the opportunity to create ideas that will enhance the involvement of young persons in production agriculture