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Multidimensional effects of migration on output of farming households in southwest Nigeria

University of Ibadan, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Nigeria

Abstract

The effects of migration have often been limited to the receipt of monetary remittances to sending households. However, there are other dimensions of migration with effects on the households. We argue that migration remittances could have monetary, social, and technical dimensions with differential effects on farming households’ livelihood outcomes. This study investigated the multidimensional effects of migration on 115 migrant- sending and agricultural based households’ production output in Saki west Local Government Area, Oyo State in Southwest Nigeria. The main reasons for migration of household members were employment, education, and farming. Destination of the migrants were mainly to other rural communities (42 %); followed by urban cities (37 %) and others. Social remittances included access to markets (41.4 %), access to information about health (28.6 %); membership of social groups (23.2 %) and information about insurance (6.8 %). Technical remittances on the other hand included improved access to production inputs (herbicide, pesticides), knowledge of improved practices, improved technologies and value addition. Financial remittances averaged, Naira 8,400 per month; and were mainly used for non- agricultural purposes. Thus, while financial remittance increased household income, its effect was to increase expenditure; rather than investment. Our findings further showed that among other variables, households who received social and technical remittances had significantly higher production output than those who did not; while financial remittances had reducing effect on output. Other factors that influenced production output were farm size and education. The findings bring to the fore the importance of social networks in introducing production enhancing practices among migrant sending agricultural based households. Also, policies that enhance acquiring farmland; and stronger land tenure system, while fostering community initiatives for growth are recommended.

Keywords: Agricultural production, financial remittances, migration, social remittances, technical remittances

Contact Address: Temitayo Adeyemo, University of Ibadan, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Ibadan, Nigeria, e-mail: adeyemotemitayogmail.com