The Impact Of Rural-Urban Migration On Agriculture In Maiha Local Government Area Of Adamawa State

Abstract

This study vividly examined the impact of rural-urban migration on agriculture in Maiha local Government Area of Adamawa State. The paper used both primary and secondary sources of data. The paper used survey research design. The researcher distributed questionnaires to respondents and were retrieved and analyzed through descriptive statistics. While secondary data were collected from journal/publications and other published materials from text books and official gazette. The findings of the study clearly revealed that rural-urban migration is a recurring phenomenon and outrageous detrimental menace plaguing agricultural production in Maiha Local Government. Most people that migrate to urban areas in the dry season do not return in the raining season to engage in farming. There is a tremendous decay in moral values of the youth in rural communities that made them to run away from their parent coupled with high level of poverty that is in manifestation in rural communities of the study area. The findings spelt out clearly that lack of social infrastructure such as; roads, good water, education, electricity, health facilities, network services and high cost of farm implements as the outstanding factors that push rural dwellers away, while their presence in the city pull them to urban centers. On this strength of the findings above, the following recommendations were put forward to curtail rural urban migration. Policy makers should put in place a mechanism to track the influx of labor to urban areas by making farming activities more attractive to the rural farmers through subsiding farm tools and implements. Religious leaders, traditional leaders and guardians should train the youth on good societal values and norms. Rural areas should be developed, through the provision of functional social amenities that will create an enabling environment for the peasantry to stay in their habitat of origin and engaged in agricultural activities to ensure food security in the country at large.