Exploring Agriculture Students’ Insights towards Sustainable Livelihood

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.105.13

Abstract:
This research investigates the socio-demographic and institutional factors affecting students' perceptions toward sustainable livelihood. Within the framework of the Sustainable Livelihood Approach, education becomes vital for developing the human capital needed in agriculture. Purposive sampling was carried out with 202 B.Sc. and M.Sc. agriculture students from a university in Lucknow District, using a quantitative, descriptive survey design. The researcher himself developed the instrument for collecting responses through the "Perception Scale of Agriculture Students Towards Sustainable Livelihood" (PSASSL). To conduct the statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U-test was used. Perception differences were significant with respect to gender, locale, parental occupation, and type of institutions, with no perception differences on the basis of socioeconomic status. The perceptions of the students on sustainable livelihood were influenced highly through their own exposure, agricultural tradition, and the standard of the institution's infrastructure. The results provide greater emphasis on the need for a more equitable curriculum process as well as an entry into experiential learning, most especially in government institutions. In this regard, the results are consistent with the thrust of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 objectives and promoting integrated skill-based as well as sustainability-oriented education. This research strengthens the argument regarding sustainability in agricultural education, showing how different cohorts of students conceptualize sustainability, thus making a case for recommendations that should be made for educators, agencies, and policymakers wishing to promote sustainable development and livelihood preparation among prospective agricultural professionals.

Keywords:
Sustainable Livelihood, Agricultural Education, Student Perceptions, Livelihood Strategies, Agricultural Curriculum, Higher Education.

Article Info:
Received: 29 Aug 2025; Received in revised form: 28 Sep 2025; Accepted: 03 Oct 2025; Available online: 11 Oct 2025

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