Partnership Framework for the Establishment of Agric-Tourism Centres in Colleges of Education for Sustainable Food Security and Environment in Benue State

Abstract

The study was designed to unveil the benefits of agric-tourism and to determine the roles of government, corporate bodies, and the community in Benue State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study was 80 comprising 20 government officials, 5 each from the Ministries of Agriculture and Educational in Benue state, and 10 from Benue state Agricultural and Rural Development (BNARDA). 8 branch managers at (2 each from African Development Bank, Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) and 52 community leaders, 24 from Oju and 28 from Katsina-Ala local government respectively. No sampling was involved. A self-structured questionnaire was developed to collect data. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were tested using ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed several benefits of agric-tourism such as additional revenue to the farmer, and the development of psychomotor skills through first-hand experience among others. Also, both government and corporate originations have very crucial roles to play in the partnership amongst which are funding, provision of infrastructure, and formulation of favorable policies. Again, the study revealed that the community can also provide security, land, and others in a tripartite relationship for establishing agric-tourism centres. Based on the findings, it was recommended that tripartite relationships amongst bodies be encouraged for sustainable food security and the environment at all levels.