Migration and Agricultural Investment in Southeast, Nigeria

Gender shapes migration and agricultural investments in farming households. Despite indications that gender plays an important role in driving migration and remittance, research in this context is limited. This study therefore, explored rural-urban migration and agricultural investment in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique in the selection of respondents. Cross-sectional data gathered from 200 household heads (100 male-headed households and 100 female-headed households) was used. Using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square regression the findings reveal that majority of male and female migrants (60% and 55% respectively) in male-headed households migrated in search of jobs. Majority of male and female migrants in female-headed households (50% and 55% respectively) migrated in search of jobs. The major determinants of migration were gender of the migrant, gender of the household head, age, income, access to credit, number of migrants in the working age, occupation and number of livelihood activities pursued by the household. The average annual remittance from male migrants in male-headed households was N204,269.3 while that of their female counterparts was N161,297.76. The average annual remittance from male migrants in female-headed households was N189,282.9 while that of their female counterparts was N170,297.8. The average amount of remittance invested in agriculture in male-headed households was N131,334.8 while that of their female counterparts was N151,676.5. The study concludes that gender drives migration, remittances from both the sender and receiver perspectives and household investment decisions. It is however recommended that gender should be mainstreamed in migration policies to consider the peculiarities of both men and women in migration and remittances.