MIGRANT AGES AND DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD LABOUR SUPPLIES IN FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN IKWUANO ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

OSONDU C.K.¹, ANYIRO C.O.², EMEROLE C.O.^3
1Department of Agricultural Economics And Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
²Department of Agricultural Economics And Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
³Department of Agricultural Economics And Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

Received : 18-11-2013     Accepted : 12-12-2013     Published : 27-12-2013
Volume : 1     Issue : 2       Pages : 31 - 35
World Res J Trop Agr 1.2 (2013):31-35

This study on rural household migrant age distribution and determinants on farm labour supplies in food crop production was carried out in Ikwuano Local Government Area, of Abia State Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used in a survey to select 120 rural farm households. Data was collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that 52.50% of the farm households were between the age range of 41 to 60 years, with 70.0% being females, 55.83% married, 56.60% had a household with 5 to 9 members, 98.33% had formal education and 51.67% engaged in farming as their primary occupation. The correlate of age and labour supply gave a coefficient of 0.6741. Household size, migration and farm output positively influenced farm labour supply with marital status of household head and primary occupation of spouse negatively influenced farm labour supplies in food crop production. Low farm labour wage and seasonal out-migration of household youth labour were identified as major constraints on labour supply to crop production. We recommended modernizing agriculture, improving rural infrastructures for better health of farmers and supplies of labour.

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