SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF AGRIBUSINESS AS CAREER OPTION AFTER GRADUATION AMONG AGRICULTURAL STUDENTS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the determinants of choice of agribusiness as career option after graduation among agricultural students of tertiary institutions in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that, the respondents have a mean age of 27 years and majority (62.7%) were male and mostly (65.3%) single while 28.0% were married. About 65% of the respondents gained their admission through unified tertiary and matriculation examination, 34.7% through direct entry and 87.3% choose agriculture as first choice. Majority (63.7%) were in second class and only 3.67% on first class with average monthly income of ₦22,500. Majority (65.3%) of the respondents were unemployed while the employed constituted 34.7% The results further showed that 30% of the parents of the respondents were self-employed in non-farm business while 11% were self-employed in farm business. Most (85.7%) of the respondents have no any farm related enterprise. The results also indicated that 60.7% of the respondents’ families reside in the towns and cities while34.33% reside in the villages. Similarly, majority (57.7%, 55.0% and 50.0%) of the respondents preferred to venture into crop production, livestock and input dealer respectively. Among the factors influencing students’ choice of agribusiness as career option after graduation were age, mode of entry and source of information all of which were significant P≤0.05 influencing the choice of agribusiness as career option after graduation. Poor market, institutional and shortage of agro allied industries were the most perceived constraints ranked 1st,2nd and 3rd respectively. The study concluded that, age (P≤ 0.01), mode of entry (P≤ 0.01) and source of information were significant (P≤0.05) were the major determinants of agribusiness as career option after graduation. The study recommended promotion of institutional support, Agro-industrial policy, infrastructure development and establishment of strategic marketing to explore agribusiness policies and potentials, insurance cover and business registration for graduates should be subsidized by government in order to have more take up.