Assessment of Nursery Farming Competencies Required for Self Employment among Agricultural Education Graduates in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed nursery farming competencies required for self-employment among agricultural education graduates of College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 35 participants comprising 30 Agricultural Education Graduates in College of Education Afaha Nsit and 5 nursery farmers in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State were selected using consensus sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaire titled “Nursery Farming Competency Needs for Self Employment of Agricultural Education Graduates Questionnaire” (NFCNSEAEGQ). The questionnaire instrument was scrutinized and face-validated by two experts, from the
Department of Agricultural Education in the School of Vocational and Technology Education, College of Education, Afaha Nsit. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while independent t-test statistics was employed to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that competency in nursery seed bed preparation,
crop propagation and nursery soil fertility management were highly needed for self-employment of Agricultural Education Graduates of Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit. Findings further showed that nursery farmers and Agricultural Education Graduates do not significantly differ in their response on the competencies needed in nursery seed bed preparation,
crop propagation and nursery soil fertility management for self-employment of Agricultural Education Graduates of Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit. It was concluded that operation of a functional and economically viable nursery farm capable of providing income for livelihood required competencies in nursery seed bed preparation, crop propagation and
nursery soil fertility management. It was recommended among others that Akwa Ibom State government should equip College of Education with water management facilities and equipment to aid the training of Agricultural Education Students on effective water and soil fertility management for nursery farming.