Rural-urban migration and welfare among farming households in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Rural-urban migration can reduce poverty of farming households through remittances sent by the migrant members, thereby improving welfare, although it is not encouraged in order to avoid loss of labour for farm activities. Hence, the study examined the impact of rural-urban migration on farming households' poverty status in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data was used for the study collected via a multistage sampling procedure to survey 160 farming household heads. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, FGT poverty indices and propensity score matching. Results showed age and total household income were significantly higher among migrant farming households, while farm size and farm income were significantly higher among non-migrant households. Probability of migration was increased by age (0.0474), household size (0.5284), being married (1.1642) and crop production (0.8400). Poverty was higher among non-migrant households than migrant, and was significantly reduced by rural-urban migration, up to 43%. Therefore, poverty reduction policy should incorporate rural-urban migration of farming households through provision of employment opportunities for members who are willing to migrate to urban centers.