Effect of Rural - Urban Migration on Arable Crops Production in Delta North Agricultural Zone, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the events of rural-urban migration on Arable crops production in the rural areas of Delta North Agricultural Zone of Delta State. Data were collected from 180 rural households’ arable crops farmers. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. Most migrants were able bodied young adults. Labour shortage was experienced in almost every household by arable crops farmers. As a result of labour shortage there were lots of uncultivated and under-cultivated arable crop lands in hectares. Net revenue foregone significantly correlated with labour shortage, reduction in arable crops production and rate of migration. The findings reveal that rural-urban migration was selective of age, marital status, and educational backgrounds while the primary reason for the movement was to better themselves economically. Also, that the massive influx of people to the cities was due to the dearth of infrastructure and economic opportunities and the neglect suffered by the agricultural sector in the rural areas. As a recommendation, a more proactive measure be adopted in the rural infrastructural development and government should adopt and enforce infrastructural priority policies that will create the enabling environment for rural transformation and agricultural development in rural areas that will bring positive effects to households of arable crops farmers who are the hub of food production in Delta North.