Integrating Agricultural Education And Business Education For Agripreneurial Skill Development Among Students In Colleges Of Education In Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the integration of agricultural and business education for agripreneurial skill development among students in Colleges of Education in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study was driven by the disconnect between agricultural production knowledge and business competencies required for successful agribusiness practice. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of 1,350 lecturers and final-year students, from which a sample of 270 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a validated instrument titled Agripreneurial Skill Development Questionnaire (ASDQ), with a reliability coefficient of 0.82 (Cronbach Alpha). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while t-test was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the integration of agricultural and business education is implemented to a moderate extent but significantly enhances students' agripreneurial skills, including farm management, financial literacy, marketing, innovation, and decision-making. However, inadequate funding, shortage of qualified lecturers, poor infrastructure, weak industry linkage, and outdated curriculum were identified as major constraints. The hypothesis test showed a significant difference between lecturers' and students' perceptions of integration. The study concludes that effective integration of agricultural and business education is essential for strengthening agripreneurial capacity, promoting selfreliance, and enhancing sustainable economic development.