Perception and willingness of youth to participate in the farming of HEMP (Cannabis Sativa L.) for biofuel : a case study of Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

South Africa's agricultural sector is facing energy crisis due to her high energy dependence on coal. This affects agricultural production, employment and economic growth. Hemp, a biofuel crop, is proposed as a potential alternative, and is the most environmentally-friendly crop. Literature explores hemp as biofuel, but lacks research on youth perception and willingness to farm hemp for biofuel, despite their role in agricultural development thus, the study seeks to fill that gap. The study was aimed at analysing the youths to participate in hemp farming for biofuel in Polokwane Municipality, South Africa. Primary cross-sectional data was used for the study. A subset of 303 participants was selected and interviewed using random sampling and a face-to-face questionnaire. The socio-economic characteristics of the youth were described using Descriptive Statistics. Likert Scale was used to analyse youth perception towards the farming of hemp. Factors affecting willingness to participate (WTP) were estimated using a Binary Logistic Regression Model. The results showed that 50.2% of participants were male. The percentage of the participants who were unemployed was 82% and 56% had not attended any entrepreneurship training or workshop. The majority (74%) of youth held a positive perception towards participating in hemp farming. From Binary Logistic Regression results, the study revealed entrepreneurship seminar, religious affiliation being positively significant factors influencing WTP at 0.1% level. Gender and employment were found to be negatively significant at 5% level, while access to information and access to credit were found to be positively significant the same level. The study suggests enhancing access to credit, promoting religious beliefs among youth to enhance their participation, and capacity development in entrepreneurship education.