Participation of rural youth in agriculture and allied activities

Abstract

The present study examined the extent and pattern of participation of rural youth in agricultural and allied activities in southern Rajasthan using an ex-post-facto research design. The investigation was conducted in two purposively selected districts, Udaipur and Bhilwara, representing tribal and non-tribal populations. From each district, two tehsils and three villages per tehsil were selected, resulting in a total of 12 villages (six tribal and six non-tribal). A sample of 240 rural youth aged 16-30 years, as per the National Youth Policy (2012), was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected through personal interviews using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Youth participation was assessed across crop production, vegetable cultivation, orchard management, animal husbandry and dairy activities, and farm management practices using Mean Per Cent Score (MPS), ranking, percentage and other statistical measures. The results revealed moderate to high participation of rural youth in skill-based and productivity-oriented activities such as input management, irrigation, weed control, plant protection, animal care and farm supervision. In contrast, lower participation was observed in labour-intensive and drudgery-prone activities including ploughing, thinning, transplanting and post-harvest operations. Non-tribal youth showed significantly higher involvement in decision-making, market-linked and management activities, whereas tribal youth were more engaged in routine and labour-based tasks. The study concludes that rural youth are a crucial resource for agricultural development; however, targeted interventions in skill development, mechanization, market linkage and youth-oriented extension services, particularly for tribal youth, are essential to enhance their participation and ensure sustainable agricultural growth.