Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 9, 2006

Economic activities of migrant rural dwellers in Irewole local government area of , .

* O.B. Oyesola, M.G. Olujide, and J.O. Oladeji Department of Agric. Extension and Rural Development University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 20th May, 2006

ABSTRACT

Inadequate natural resources and environmental problems have led to the migration of different ethnic groups across the ecological zones of Nigeria. Therefore, this study examines the economic activities of migrant rural dwellers in Irewole Local Govern- ment Area of Osun State, Nigeria. Two communities, Wasinmi and Bamigbola were purposely selected for this study and one hundred and eighty-eight migrants were ran- domly interviewed. The result showed that majority of the respondents were within the age range of 16-47 years old, married and of the following ethnic backgrounds Yoruba, Ibo, Ashanti from Ghana, Igede (Benue State), Ibira (Kogi State) and Ngas (Plateau State). They were literate with household size of less than six. They engaged in the following economic activities – food crop production, livestock production, trad- ing, hired labour on farms, transport business, processing of oil palm, cassava and other minor economic activities like honey collection, digging of wells and sponge mak- ing. These activities were done for both household consumption and sales. Majority of these activities are carried out in both wet and dry seasons with the exception of hired labour, honey collection, digging of wells and sponge making which were done during the dry season.Majority identified inadequate funds, water supply, low sales, lack of basic amenities, health hazards, and lack of agricultural input as major problems fac- ing them in the study area. Result of analysis on test of relationship between educa- tional status and level of involvement in economic activities is significant (x2 = 7.624, p  0.05). Significant difference exists in the economic activities of male and female re- spondents (t = 2.42, p  0.05). It is therefore recommended that a soft revolving loan scheme, extension services and other social amenities be provided to improve the eco- nomic activities of migrant rural dwellers in the study area.

Key words: Economic Activities, Migrant, Rural Dwellers, Constraints

INTRODUCTION other, either on temporary or permanent basis. It is basically a reflection of the im- Migration refers to the movement of peo- balances in opportunities and life chances ple from one geographical location to an- which exist between places. The move *Corresponding author 44 O.B. Oyesola, et al., : Economic Activities of Migrant Rural Dwellers

ment may be from rural to urban, rural to 2003). A good example is the movement rural and more recently, from urban to ru- of Ife-Modakeke people out of their terri- ral. Also, the movement can be from one tory to nearby urban and rural areas due to ecological zone to another. Various rea- conflict in their homeland (Ekong, 2003). sons had been identified as causes for the Adverse physical conditions in the envi- movement of people from one location to ronment such as drought in the case of pas- another. In Nigeria, the lack of opportu- turalists, flood, exhaustion of pasture (in nity to earn cash income during the slack case of nomadic farmers), development of season in the farming calendar has engen- road transportation and improved commu- dered migration among Hausa farmers nication systems and many other reasons (Jabbar et al., 1995). Rural-rural wage have been found to contribute to the differential may also generate migration. growth and spread of migration among For example, the introduction of export rural dwellers. The problem of soil infer- cash crops like cocoa and rubber into south tility, aggravated by gully erosion caused -western Nigeria, led to the migration of the villagers in some parts of Udi, Nsukka farmers from other parts of the country and Awka in Anambra and Enugu States into this region. Another asserted reason respectively, to abandon their villages for migration in the country is the problem (Ekong 2003). Lipton (1976) in his study of insufficient land within the farmer’s of migration from rural areas in poor coun- own territory. This is common among the tries also observed that rural migration ap- Ibo people, who migrate to the south- pears to come from two major economic western part of the country where there are classes. These include the very poor land- more arable land for economic purposes. less and illiterate group and relatively well Likewise, with improvement in education off, better educated and unskilled group. and skills, people with higher education in Various studies (Jabbar et al., 1995; rural areas tend to move out to find com- Oyesola, 2000; Ekong, 2003) had shown mensurate employments in towns and the movement of people from different those with poor or no educational back- ethnic background to various ecological ground migrate to acquire skills (Ekong, zones of the country. Oyesola (2000) 2003). found that Agro pastoralist in Ogun State People also migrate to escape from so- involved in crops, livestock and other in- cial and cultural imprisonment in homoge- come generating activities that are foreign nous rural areas; innovators who want to their ethnicity. Land tenure problems something new and different are generally through inheritance and soil fertility had fired by this motive to migrate (Jibowo, also caused the movement of rural south- 2000). The need to escape from social up- eastern people to the rural southwest for heavals, violence, and political instability economic activities. Recent studies(Albert for example, the movement of the people 1999;Nnozi 2003;Otite 1999) on conflict of Owo from their hometown to nearby have also revealed migration within the urban and rural areas due to political insta- southwest rural areas. Likewise, conflicts bility, suspected or real persecution may in the south south ecological zone have also lead to migration in urban-rural, rural- necessitated migration to the southwest urban or rural-rural direction (Ekong, and due to the cost of living in urban cen- Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 9, 2006 45 ters, most of them migrated to rural areas tudes 70151 and 70311 and Longitudes to engage in various economics activities 40051 and 40251 east of Greenwich. It is that are available. bounded in the North by Ayedire Local Most of the past developmental projects Government Area, in the West by Egbeda for agricultural and rural development con- Local Government Area of Oyo State, in centrate mostly on indigenous people giv- the Southwest by Local Govern- ing less attention to non-indigenes. For ment Area, in the South by Local agriculture to grow and be sustained there Government Area and Northeast by is need to give recognition to non- Ayedade Local Government Area. The indigenes who are residing in most eco- local government area is divided into nomic advantage rural areas. Rural devel- eleven wards, namely Arinkinkin, Aye- opment is not only the provision of social toro, Balogun, Bamidele, Bamigbola, infrastructures but also, the economic de- Ikire, Ikoyi-Ile, Majeroku, Molarere and velopment of individuals that form the ru- Wasinmi. Information gathered from the ral community. Therefore, having a knowl- local government office revealed that ma- edge of economic activities of non- jority of the migrant rural dwellers settled indigenes will provide a working knowl- in Wasinmi and Bamigbola. Therefore, for edge that will inform the intervention to be the purpose of this study, Wasinmi and developed for them. Bamigbola communities were purposively Communities are no more homogenous selected for the study. but heterogeneous, social and economic activities are changing and this will affect Table 1: Distribution of Analysed their well-being. Hence, there is a need to Questionnaire carry out studies on migration so that inter- Sex Estimated Actual ventions that will meet migrant’s needs Freq % Freq % would be provided. Male 160 130 (54.16) The study therefore, provides answers (66.66) to the following research questions: Female 80 58 (24.17) 1. What are the personal characteristics of (33.34) migrants’ rural dwellers in the study area? Total 240 100 188 78.3 2. What are their economic activities? 3. Why do they engage in these economic Source: Field Survey 2004. activities? 4. When do they engage in these eco- Sample Size and Sampling Procedure nomic activities? 5. What problems are they facing on Purposive random sampling was used to these economic activities? select eighty males and forty females from each of the communities giving a total METHODOLOGY sample size of two hundred and forty re- spondents. The Study Area Table 1 presents the distribution of ana- Irewole Local Government Area with Ikire lysed questionnaire. This study intended to as its headquarters is located between Lati interview two hundred and forty respon- 46 O.B. Oyesola, et al., : Economic Activities of Migrant Rural Dwellers dents, but one hundred and eighty-eight verity. Data were collected through inter- respondents were interviewed due to limi- view schedule and analysed using fre- tations on the field of study, such as cul- quency counts, means, percentages, chi- tural reasons where women are not al- square, t-test and Pearson Product Moment lowed to be interviewed and men are busy Correlation (PPMC). on their farms, and some are also involved in processing of oil palm during this pe- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION riod. The survey was conducted between February and May 2004. A. Personal Characteristics of Re- spon Measurement of Variables -dents

The dependent variable for the study is Table 2: Distribution of Respondents economic activities. This was measured Sex Fre- Per- by listing all economic activities in rural quency centage areas of southwestern Nigeria from litera- Male 130 69.1 ture, asking respondents to indicate on a 2- Female 58 30.9 point scale of Yes (1) and No (0) the ones Total 188 100.0 in which they are involved. The level of Age involvement was measured on a 3-point 16 – 31 88 46.9 scale of rarely (1), occasionally (2) and 32 – 47 74 39.3 always (3). Individual scores were 48 – 63 14 7.5 summed up and mean for all the respon- 64 and above 12 6.3 dents calculated. This was then catego- rized into 2 groups. Respondents with Total 188 100.0 scores of the mean and above were catego- Marital Status rized to have high level of involvement in Single 44 23.4 economic activities, while those with Divorced 4 2.1 scores below the mean were categorized as Married 130 69.2 having low level of involvement. The in- Widowed 10 5.3 dependent variables of the study included personal characteristics of respondents, Total 188 100.0 purpose of involvement, time of involve- Ethnic Group ment and constraints being faced. Per- Yoruba 32 17.0 sonal characteristics measured included Ibo 4 2.1 age, sex, educational status, marital status, Hausa 16 8.5 ethnic background and family size. Pur- Ashanti (Ghana) 2 1.2 pose of engagement was measured on a 3- point norminal scale of household use only Igede (Benue 70 37.2 (1), sale only (2) and both (3). While time State) of involvement on a 3-point scale of dry Ibira (Kogi 48 25.5 State) season (1), wet season (2) and both (3). Ngas (Plateau 16 8.5 For constraints being faced, respondents State) were asked to list and rank in order of se Total 188 100.0 Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 9, 2006 47

Residing years < 1 – 15 128 68.1 and Hausa, Ashanti from Ghana, Igede of 16 – 31 26 13.8 Benue State, Ibira of Kogi State and Ngas 32 – 47 26 13.8 of Plateau State. Igede (37.2%) are the most common migrants in the area, fol- 48 and above 8 4.3 lowed by Ibira (25.5%), Yoruba (17.0%), Total 188 100.0 Ngas 8.5%) and Hausa (8.5%). The reason Educational Level for this kind of observation is because of Primary 64 34.0 savannah vegetation in the study area that Secondary 60 31.9 favours root crop production, which is the Tertiary 32 6.4 major occupation of Igede and Ibira ethnic No formal educa- 50 26.6 groups. The Yorubas in the study area are tion from Ife and Modakeke town where con- No response 2 1.1 flict had deprived them of their economic Total 188 100.0 resources in the last few years. Respon- dents are mostly involved in food produc- Household Size tion. Majority of the respondents (68.1%) 1 – 5 130 69.2 had been residing in the study area for 6 – 10 46 24.4 more than 15 years. It can be observed 11 – 15 8 4.3 from the Table 2 that, as the number of years increased, the number of respondents 16 and above 4 2.1 decreased. Total 188 100.0 Table 3: Distribution of Economic Activities Source: Field Survey, 2004. of Respondents

The result showed that the mean age of Economic Yes No (%) Total respondents in the area was thirty-six Activities (%) (%) years. Majority (86.3%) were between the a)Food crop 140 48 188 ages of 16 – 47 years, this implied that, production (74.5) (25.5) (100) they are in their energetic age in life and b) Livestock 32 156 188 production (17.0) (83.0) (100) could be involved in more than one eco- c) Trading 62 126 188 nomic activity. The reason for this kind of (petty) (33.0) (67.0) (100) observation is that studies had revealed d) Hired la- 26 162 188 that youth are the majority that migrates bour (13.8) (86.2) (100) from one place to another in search of bet- e) Transport 8 180 188 ter living (Ekong, 2003). business (4.3) (95.7) (100) Majority (69.1%) of respondents were f) Tree crop 8 180 188 married. This implied that migrants do production (4.3) (95.7) (100) move in most cases with members of their g) Others 8 180 188 (honey, (4.3) (95.7) (100) families in search of better living. The re- sponge, dig- sult of analysis showed that ethnic groups ging of wells) present in the study included Yoruba, Ibo, Source: *Multiple Response Field Survey, 2004. 48 O.B. Oyesola, et al., : Economic Activities of Migrant Rural Dwellers

The reason for this observation might be studies had also shown that youth form the that, as they grow older, they return to majority of migrants, in search of lucrative their original hometown. This has also job. been observed by past studies. Respon- Table 3 showed that majority (74%) of dents are literate who can read and write. the migrant were engaged in food crop This implied that their educational status production; this may be due to the suitabil- motivated them to migrate. This observa- ity of the soil for planting root crop. The tion has been asserted by Kees (2003) and root crops included yams, cassava and co- Ekong (2003) that most youth with educa- coyam. Trading is mainly done by women tion usually migrate in search of better and Hausa men (33%). Livestock produced economic activities. include cattle, chicken, ducks and goats. Most respondents (69.2%) had an house- Only 13.8% of the migrants were hired hold size of between 1 and 5. This small laborers. It was observed during the field household size may be due to the fact that, study that economic activities of respon- they are in a foreign land where there is dents significantly contributed to their well restriction to ownership of properties or -being. Also, ethnic groups were engaged wealth to cater for larger family size. Past in different economic activities. C. Respondents Purpose of Involvement in Economic Activities

Table 4: Distribution of Purpose of Involvement in Economic Activities

Economic House No Re- Total Activities hold Both (2) sponse (%) (%) consu- mption Sales Only

a) Food crop 4 16 (8.5) 120 (63.8) 48 (25.6) 188 (100)

production (2.1)

b) Livestock - 10 (5.3) 22 (11.7) 156 (83.0) 188 (100) production c) Trading - 14 (7.4) 48 (25.6) 126 (67.0) 188 (100) (petty)

d) Hired farm 2 16 (8.5) 8 (4.3) 162 (86.1) 188 (100)

labour (1.1)

e) Transport - 8 (4.3) - 180 (95.7) 188 (100) business f) Tree crop - 8 (4.3) - 180 (95.7) 188 (100) production g) Others - - 8 (4.3) 180 (95.7) 188 (100) (honey, sponge, dig- ging of wells)

Source: Field Survey, 2004. Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 9, 2006 49

Table 4 showed that majority (63.8%) sales. Respondents were engaged in trans- of migrants were involved in food crop portation and tree crop production only for production for both household consump- monetary gain. Household consumption tion and sale, 11.7% of livestock produc- means that respondents engaged in such ers use it for both household consumption economic activities for consumption and sales, while 25.6% and 4.3% of the within their individual households, while respondents were engaged in trading and sale only means they engaged in the activ- hired farm labour both for household and ity to generate cash income. D. Time of Involvement of Respondents in Economic Activities

Table 5: Distribution of Time of Involvement in Economic Activities

Economic Activi- Dry (%) Wet (%) Both (%) No response Total ties a) Food crop pro- 4 (2.1) 10 (5.3) 126 (67) 48 (25.6) 188 (100) duction b) Livestock pro- 4 (2.1) - 28 (14.9) 156 (83.0) 188 (100) duction c) Trading (petty) 6 (3.2) - 56 (29.8) 126 (67.0) 188 (100)

d) Hired labour 16 (8.5) - 10 (5.3) 162 (86.2) 188 (100) e) Transport busi- - - 8 (4.3) 180 (95.7) 188 (100) ness f) Tree crop pro- - - 8 (4.3) 180 (95.7) 188 (100) duction g) Others (honey, 8 (4.3) - - 180 (95.7) 188 (100) sponge, digging of wells)

Source: Field Survey, 2004.

E. Problems faced by Migrants in the Study Area

Table 6: Distribution of Respondents by their Problems

1st Problem 2nd Problem 3rd Problem

Finance 120 (63.8) 48 (25.5) 28 (14.9) Lack of water 36 (19.1) 26 (13.8) 8 (4.3) Low sales 4 (2.1) 10 (5.3) - Lack of basic ameni- 4 (2.1) 28 (14.9) 14 (7.4) ties Health hazards 6 (3.2) 4 (2.1) 4 (2.1) Agricultural Inputs 10 (5.3) 16 (8.5) 6 (3.2)

Source: Field Survey, 2004. 50 O.B. Oyesola, et al., : Economic Activities of Migrant Rural Dwellers

characteristics are sex, marital status and Table 5 showed that majority (67%) of mi- educational level). grant who were engaged in food crop pro- The result given in Table 7 showed that duction, do so in both dry and wet seasons. there was a significant relationship be- While only few of the respondents en- tween educational attainment and level of gaged in livestock production, trading, involvement in economic activities. The hired labour, transport, honey collection, study revealed that those respondents sponge making, well digging and tree-crop with higher educational attainment were production during dry season. more involved in economic activities. About 63.8% of respondents identified This means that education has exposed lack of funds as their major problem, while them to more economic opportunities. 19.1%, 2.1%, 3.2% and 5.2% had lack of water, low sales, lack of basic amenities, H02: There was no significant difference health hazards and lack of inputs as their in the economic activities of male major problems respectively. This problem and female respondents in the of finance as explained by the respondents study area. during survey is hindering them from in- creasing their level of food, tree and live- Table 8: T-test Analysis for Difference stock production. Because if they have in Economic Activities of Male and Fe- more credit, they will be able to increase male Respondents in the Study Area their acreage of production and purchase improved farm inputs. Their present level of production is seriously affecting their Sources N X SD t- df p- De- well being but not as in their former place of valu val cisi Varia- e ue on of residence. tion

F. Test of Hypotheses Male 130 113.03 2.53 2.42 186 0.0 Sig- H01: There is no significant relationship 2 nifi between selected personal charac- cant teristics of the migrants and their level of involvement in economic Female 58 14.97 1.05 activities. (the selected personal Table 7; Chi-square Test

Charac- Chi- Df p- Decision Decision p ≤0.05 = significant teri-stics square value value The result of analysis in Table 8 above Sex 0.409 1 .60 Not Signifi- cant showed that the economic activities of Marital 4.560 3 .21 Not Signifi- male and female respondents were differ- status cant ent in the study area. This confirmed the Education 7.624 3 .05 Significant findings on gender studies, which revealed -al level that roles and responsibilities are different within households and community. Decision: p ≤ 0.05 = significant Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 9, 2006 51

grants who don’t have enough cash CONCLUSION to rent or hire land for crop produc- tion tend to be tenant farmers. Based on the findings of the study, the fol- -Migration has improved the social well lowing conclusions could be made: being and income level of migrants -Majority of the respondents were when compared to their original liv- males, below 47 years of age, mar- ing areas. ried, had formal education, house- hold size of between 1 and 5 and had Recommendations been residing in the study area for more than 5 years. To improve and boost social well-being of -The ethnic groups found in the study migrants in rural communities the follow- area were Igede, Ibira, Yoruba, ing recommendation could be made: Hausa, Ngas, Ibo and Ashanti from Ghana.  Adequate provision of fund to mi- -Their economic activities included grants by granting soft and re- food crop production, livestock rea volving loan through Agricultural ring、 trading, hired labour, tree and Rural Development Coopera- crop production and transportation tive Bank. services. They were involved in  Government should provide ade- these activities to provide food for quate and functional social ameni- household consumption and to gen- ties for the populace by sinking erate money to meet other expenses. boreholes and digging wells, They engaged in these economic ac- health centers, television and ra- tivities both in wet and dry seasons dio listening centre, etc. of the year.  Good road and transport system -Problems faced by migrants in the should be provided to open up the study area included lack of funds, study area so as to increase sales inadequate land, lack of agricultural and thereby solve the problem of inputs and lack of social amenities low sales. like water, electricity and health cen-  Storage facilities should be pro- ter. vided to store excess products -Literate respondents were involved in  Finally, social welfare officers more than one economic activity. should give adequate attention to -Male and female respondents were en- non-indigenous people. gaged in different economic activi- ties. REFERENCES -People do migrate from economic and social improvishment to improve Albert, I.O. (1999): “Ife-Modakeke Cri- their social welfare through eco- sis”. In Community Conflicts in nomic activities. Nigeria. Spectrum Books Limited, -There was no difference in the eco- Ibadan. Pp.142. nomic activities of natives and mi- An Introduction and Analysis of Rural grant, except that some of the mi- Nigeria. New Edition, Dove Eduu- 52 O.B. Oyesola, et al., : Economic Activities of Migrant Rural Dwellers

cational Publishers, Uyo. Rural-Urban Market Interaction, Ekong, E. Ekong (2003): Rural Sociology: Washington D.C. pp 28. Pp 48-59. Nnozi, O. (2003): Communal Conflict and Jabbar, M.A., Reynolds, L. and P.A. Francis Displacement in Nigeria: an explana- (1995) Sedentarization of Cattle tory analysis. Pacrip Book series No. Farmers in the derived Savan- 1. nah Region of South West Nigeria: Otte, O. (1999): “Conflicts Management, “Results of a Survey”. Tropical Ani- Resolution and Transformation” mal Health No 27:pp.55-64. Community Conflicts in Nigeria Jibowo, G. (2000): Essentials of Rural Spectrum, Books Limited, Ibadan. 1- Sociology. Gbemi Sodipo Press 33p Limited, Abeokuta, Nigeria. pp 36 Oyesola, O.B. (2000): Training Needs on Kees Van der Geest (2003): Rural Migration Income Generating Activities of and Livelihood Security in Ghana, Agro-PastoralWoman in Ogun State. workingPaper, Sussex Centre for Mi- Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis in the De- gration Research, University of Sus- partment of Agricultural Extension sex. Pp 2-10. and Rural Development, University .Lipton, M. (1976): Migration from Rural of Ibadan. Areas of Poor Countries: The Impact on Rural Productivity and Income Distribution. Paper presented at the World Bank Research Workshop on