Migration and Agricultural Investment in Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored rural-urban migration and agricultural investment in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure in the selection of respondents. Cross-sectional data gathered from 200 household heads (100 male-headed households and 100 female-headed households) were used. Using percentage, mean and ordinary least square regression, the findings revealed that the major determinants of migration were sex of the household head (3.53), male to female ratio of household members not resident at home (14.86), age (0.50), access to credit (10.53), number of migrants in the working age (2.6), occupation (11.56) and number of livelihood activities pursued by the household (1.87). The average annual remittance from male migrants in maleheaded households was ₦204,269.3 while that of their female counterparts was ₦161,297.76. The average annual remittance from male migrants in femaleheaded households was ₦189,282.9 while that of their female counterparts was ₦170,297.8. The average amount of remittance invested in agriculture in maleheaded households was ₦131,334.8 while that of their female counterparts was ₦151,676.5. Gender drives migration, remittances from both the sender and receiver perspectives and household investment decisions. Gender should be mainstreamed in migration policies to consider the peculiarities of both men and women in migration and remittances.

Key words: Migration; gender; remittance; investment in agriculture