Relevance of Vocational Agricultural Education to Rural Livelihood in Anambra State

This study assessed the relevance of vocational agricultural education to rural livelihood improvement among secondary school graduates in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for a large proportion of Nigeria's rural population, and vocational agricultural education has long been promoted as a vehicle for modernizing farming practices and improving food security. Using a descriptive survey design, the study sampled 280 rural household heads whose children had completed secondary agricultural education in the past five years. A structured interview guide and questionnaire were employed as instruments. Findings showed that graduates who received practical agricultural training were more likely to adopt improved crop varieties, utilize fertilizers appropriately, and engage in small-scale agro-processing. However, the absence of startup capital, land access challenges, and weak market linkages limited the translation of skills into sustained livelihood gains. The study recommends that the Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme collaborate with secondary schools to establish demonstration farms, provide post-graduation support to young farmers, and link graduates with government agricultural credit schemes. Schools should also emphasize agribusiness modules within their agricultural curricula. This study provides evidence that vocational agricultural education delivers measurable livelihood benefits when supported by complementary post-school interventions. Keywords: vocational agriculture, rural livelihood, Anambra State, secondary education, agribusiness.