Intergenerational Learning Strategies and Sustainable Agricultural Practices Among Farmers in Orashi Communities of Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined intergenerational learning strategies and their contribution to sustainable agricultural practices among farmers in Orashi communities of Rivers State. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated and tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 1,900 registered farmers across the four Local Government Areas of Orashi region: Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, and Abua/Odual. The sample size was 332 respondents determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table of sample size determination. A multistage sampling technique was used: simple random sampling technique was used to select two LGAs from the four LGAs under study, secondly, stratified sampling method was used to divide farmers into older and younger strata, and proportionate sampling method was used to select 30% from each stratum. The instrument for data collection was a researcher-designed questionnaire titled “Intergenerational Learning Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Practices Among Farmers in Orashi Communities in Rivers State Questionnaire” (ILSFSAPIRSQ). The instrument was structured on a modified four-point rating scale. The instrument was subjected to face and content validation by three experts. Internal consistency was determined using the Cronbach Alpha method, yielding reliability coefficients of 0.86, 0.88, and 0.92 for the three clusters of the instrument. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested using z-test statistics at the 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that apprenticeship programmes, community farming projects, and knowledge-sharing workshops all contribute to a high extent to sustainable agricultural practices among farmers in Orashi communities. The corresponding hypotheses showed no significant difference in the mean responses of older and younger farmers on all three variables. The study recommended, among others, that the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Development Programme and local community leaders, should establish formal apprenticeship frameworks that pair experienced farmers with young agricultural graduates and school leavers.