Indigenous farmers’ and non-farmers’ perceptions on schooling and human-capital development in agro-based rural communities in southern benue, Nigeria

The presented study examined the impacts of schooling and human capital-development on agro-based rural communities in Southern Benue, Nigeria, from the perspectives of farmers and non-farmers. This study made use of the descriptive survey method. 1150 farmers and non-farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. A researcher-designed questionnaire, interview schedule and observation technique were used for data collection. Mean rating and chi-square were used for data analysis. The results showed that schooling and human capital development (SHCD) had disorientated agro-based work-force in rural communities of Southern Benue, which was ranked 1st with a mean score of 29.6 and the diversion of community resources towards schooling and human capital development (SHCD) instead of farming in rural communities of Southern Benue was ranked 2nd with a mean of 28.8. Also, insignificant difference was found in the perspectives of farmers and non-farmers concerning the impacts of schooling and human-capital development on agro-based rural communities of Southern Benue, Nigeria. It was, therefore, concluded that schooling and human-capital development have created economic and social challenges, not development in the agro-based rural communities of Southern Benue, Nigeria. It is recommended that there is a need for the Government’s strong commitment to addressing the paradox created by schooling in the human input used for sustaining productivity in the agro-based rural communities of Southern Benue, Nigeria.

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