EFFECTS OF RURAL-URBAN YOUTH MIGRATION ON AGRICULTURE IN IKA NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Migration from rural to urban centres is a common phenomenon observed in the population all over the world especially in developing countries. This study examined the effects of rural-urban youth migration on Agriculture in Ika North East local government, Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of youth; identified the agricultural activities youth engage in; identified the causes of rural-urban youth migration; determined the perceived effect of ruralurban migration on agriculture; and identified the constraints faced by youth in the study area. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents were selected for the study through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collection was facilitated by the use of structured questionnaire which was administered, of the one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaire administered, one hundred and eighteen (118) valid returns were recorded and this constituted the sample size for the study. The collected data were described (using Likert kind of scale amongst others) with frequency counts, mean and standard deviation while the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to make the inferences. Results showed that most (39.0%) of the respondents were between 40 and 50 years of age, most (51.7%) were male, majority (89.0%) were married, 63.6% had household size of 5-10 persons with a mean household size of 7.41, majority (60.7%) had secondary school education. Most (53.4%) and (22.9%) had farming experience of 10 and above and 6 - 9 years respectively with a mean of 14.27, 49.2% had a farm size of 0.81-1.12 hectare with the mean of 0.92, most ( 33.1%) and (26.3%) had an estimated annual income of N200,000 - N400,000 and N400, 000 to N600, 000 respectively, 31.4% agreed that the people had migrated from their household with a mean of 2.19. majority (61.9%) had farming as their major occupation, 46% had other (artisan labour) as secondary occupation. Majority (60.2%) of the respondents used hired labour while 33.1% used family labour. The perceived involvement of youth in agricultural activities were high in; Bush clearing ( ̅̅𝑥̅ = 3.09), Crop production (𝑥̅= 3.35), Fertilizer application (𝑥̅=3.21), Fishery (𝑥̅=2.56), Harvesting (𝑥̅=3.71), Loading/offloading (𝑥̅= 2.65), Marketing (𝑥̅= 2.59), Pest and disease management (𝑥̅=3.15), Poultry (𝑥̅= 3.15), Ruminant production (𝑥̅= 2.55), Transportation (𝑥̅=3.21), and Weeding (𝑥̅= 3.55). The perceived reasons for migration of youth were observed to be; Unemployment (𝑥̅= 4.15), Low income (𝑥̅= 3.29), Inadequate social amenities (𝑥̅= 3.77), Inadequate access to healthcare (𝑥̅= 3.76), Security challenges (𝑥̅ = 4.13), Insufficient educational opportunities (𝑥̅ = 3.08), Absence (𝑥̅= 3.17), Search for greener pastures (𝑥̅= 4.41). The perceived effects for xii rural-urban youth migration were; Reduction in household annual income of farming households (𝑥̅= 3.66), Reduction in productivity (𝑥̅= 4.28), Reduction in farming population ((𝑥̅= 3.48),Brain drain ((𝑥̅= 3.37), Low availability of labour supply (𝑥̅= 4.24), High cost of labour (𝑥̅= 4.21), Reduction in workable farm size (𝑥̅= 3.26), Increase in production cost (𝑥̅ = 3.62), Food security(𝑥̅ = 3.54) and High use of pesticides/fertilizers (𝑥̅= 4.31). The following constraints were perceived to be serious constraints faced by youths; Poor electricity supply (𝑥̅= 3.27), Low social capital, networks and support system for young people (𝑥̅= 3.26), Poor quality of education, (𝑥̅ = 3.27), High level of Poverty (𝑥̅=3.27), Inadequate agricultural support (𝑥̅= 3.18), Poor quality of life (𝑥̅= 4.66), Inadequate training and skill acquisition programmes (𝑥̅ = 3.54), Limited access to credit facilities (𝑥̅= 3.15), Poor infrastructure(𝑥̅= 3.76), Poor governance and corruption (𝑥̅ = 4.36), Limited access to affordable and reliable transportation services (𝑥̅ = 3.66). The findings further showed Age (-0.573) and estimate annual income (0.573) were significantly related to the perceived effect of migration. It was concluded that inadequate social amenities, unemployment, insufficient educational opportunities, low income amongst others serves as push factors to and recommended that basic social amenities, industries, schools should be provided in the rural areas to reduce rural-urban youth migration.