MIGRANTS AND THE RURAL ECONOMY: A CASE STUDY IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES OF OYO STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper focuses on rural-rural migration in six selected communities of Oyo State. The identification of migration streams, the sequences and composition of migrant, their farming activities, and the relationship between the migrants and the landowners are analysed. The analysis confirms Ravensteins hypothesis that most migrations occur over short distances and that economic consideration constitute the single most important reason why people migrate. The study of the migration paths indicated that less than half of our respondents were at the zero stage of migration. Correlation analysis showed significant positive association between the ages of the migrants and their duration of stay in the survey area.

The study showed that the flow of population from one rural area to another was beset by a number of population such as the insecurity of tenure of the migrants and the relation between the landowners and the migrants farmers. The paper advocate the formulation and implementation of policies such as the Land Use Decree, which could ensure that migrants have security of tenure and are provided with necessary financial and technical support which will enable them to cultivate larger holders and adopt modern practices