ABSTRACT

This study assessed the effect of rural-urban migration on rice production in Enugu and Fbonyi States, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the people in Enugu and Ebonyi States; ascertain the level of rice production in Enugu and Ebonyi States; examine reasons for rural-urban migration in Inugu and Ebonyi States; determine the level of rural-urban migration in Enugu and honyi States; and ascertain the extent to which rural-urban migration affects labour availability on rice production in Enugu and Ebonyi States. Multi-stage and purposive sampling procedures were used to select 120 respondents which constituted the sample size of the study. Data were obtained through the use of a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages, correlation and z-test equations were employed in analyzing the data collected. Findings indicated that majority of the respondents (8 1.67%) for Enugu and (73.33%) for Ebonyi States were at their youthful age of 16 —45 years with mean age of 35 years and 36 years respectively. The mean household size for Enugu State was 8 persons per household as against 10 persons per household for Ebonyi State. Many of the respondents in Enugu State (53.33%) and in Ebonyi (61.67%) were small scale farmers and had below 6 hectares of rice farm land with mean farm size of 4.5ha and 4.6ha respectively. Enugu State rice farmers produced a total of 3 875kg of rice while Ebonyi State rice farmers produced a of 3450kg of rice. Poor living conditions, low influx of income and lack of employment were the major reasons for rural-urban migration in Enugu State (65.00%) and Ebonyi State (61.67%). In Enugu State, 62.68% migrated to the urban areas while in Ehonyi State, 56.91% migrated to the urban areas. A larger proportion of the respondents (60.00%) in Enugu State and (45.00%) in Ebonyi State indicated that 4 between 4 and 9 household members and between 7 9 and 16 — 18 household members respectively participated in the rice production activities. The correlation result showed a significant relationship of urban migration with rice production in Enugu State and lihonyi State at 1% level of probability. We concluded that there was a significant and negative relationship of urban migration on rice production in Enugu State and Ebonyi State. The z-test analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the effect of rural-urban migration on rice production between Enugu and Ebonyi States. The implication of this is that we accept the Hypothesis two as stated in the positive form. Based on the findings of this study, Nigerian government should make available sufficient socio-economic and infrastructural amenities such as: higher income earning jobs. educational (especially tertiary education) facilities, electricity, motor able roads (Including farm roads), pipe borne water, good housing condition, financial institutions and other basic social-economic services for the rural dwellers.