ABSTRACT

The study evaluated the implications of rural urban migration for farm household labour supply and food security in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to assess the rate of rural-urban migration from households, analyze the determinants of migration, evaluate the monetary remittances made by migrants, determine the relationship between household farm labour supply and rural urban migration, evaluate the food security status of households and analyze the determinants of household food security in the study area. A three stage sampling technique that involved random sampling was employed in collecting data from 120 farmers with the help of a well structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were the tools used for data analysis. The findings indicate that the average rate of migration in the study area was as high as 47%. Findings on the characteristics of the migrants revealed that majority of the migrants were males and that most of the migrants fell in the age bracket 20-40 years. It was also revealed that about 69% migrated to search for jobs while about 61% migrated because of lack of social amenities in the rural areas. Only about 13.2% migrated for the reason of education. Multiple regression analysis reveals the semi-log function as the lead equation. It reveals that household size, search for job, social amenities, non -farm monthly income of the household head, food security status of the household and monthly remittance made by migrants were significant factors influencing migration in the study area. The descriptive statistics on monthly remittance made by migrants reveals that about 90% of the migrants make remittances to their households. The simple linear regression between migration and household farm labour supply reveals a negative and significant relationship between them. The result on the food security status of households in the study area reveals that about 41.7% of households in the study area are food secured. The logistic regression analysis reveals that household size, size of land cultivated, non-farm monthly income and educational level of the household head were significant determinants of household food security in the study area.