The Draining Force of Agriculture

RETROSPECT OF THE DEBILITATING EFFECT OF AGRARIAN PRACTICE IN A DENIZEN IN NIGERIA

This is an excerpt from a research conducted by myself and I feel its worth sharing. The study shows that the basic occupation of the people is business which is mainly petty business which include; selling of agricultural produce such as; garri, corn, melon, mango etc. some sells clothes, foot wares while few sells provisions and appliances. The area is largely agrarian and dominated by subsistence agriculture because of the lack of incentives and wherewithal to carryout commercial agriculture. Most obvious type of agriculture practiced there is planting of crops, few practices horticulture and animal husbandry. The few animal husbandry practiced in small scale include poultry farm, piggery and goatry. The perpetual level of poverty is evidence in their monthly income which averages between N20,000-N40,000 only; this relatively high amount can be adduced to the fact that some whom own businesses in cities visited the area during when this survey was carried out largely business it was a festive period (Easter).
Cumulative assessment shows that outmigration is very conspicuous in the area which culminates to the eventual movement of the productive labour force in search of alternative and lucrative lifestyle outside the province and jurisdiction of the area. one very noticeable reason for this eventual migration is the rapid rate of unemployment in the area; this means that agricultural is relegated to the bottom scale of preference as young able-bodied men and women prefer white-collar jobs over agriculture; this leaves the sector to perpetual declination and dwindling rural economic development. Agricultural labour becomes a problem as the technical know-how is lacking and lack of mechanization and conviction on the part of rural dwellers on the potentials of agriculture. The result is accentuated scarcity of food supply. The excessive migration of people to urban areas leaves for increased demand for labour which the repercussion will tenaciously lead to increased pay for agricultural labour which is difficult because of the poverty that pervades the rural areas. Most of the land left by migrants are left to fallow i.e wasteland. The result also shows that those within the productive age accounts for a larger part of migrants. This research work also shows that the impending danger which is caused by labour outmigration is low productivity which offsets scarcity of food and culminates to inflation of food items which if not well managed has the potential of causing starvation.
The study also shows that there is no relationship or statistical importance between outmigration and labour availability, i.e outmigration does not affect the availability of labour for agriculture, this is premised on the fact that the migrants usually sends remittance home which can be used to hire farm labours. Secondly, these migrants have friends and families at home whom helps in overseeing their land in their absence. Thirdly, these migrants visit home occasionally such as during festive periods, they however use these periods to clear, cultivate, prune grasses or harvest their agricultural products. Students whom schools at the urban areas returns to help their parents during holidays and festive periods.

CONCLUSION
This study has investigated the relationship between outmigration and labour availability and conclusively denoted that the migration of people from the area does not affect agricultural labour. The study also found that though outmigration does not affect labour availability but that there is a shortage in the supply of agricultural labour which on a long run portends a difficult repercussion and a possible debacle for agriculture in the area. people tend to give precedence to white collar jobs over agriculture and the method of agriculture practiced is mainly for self-sustenance rather than commercialization. This connotes the possible inflation and fluctuation in prices of agriculture products. The study finds outmigration to also be excessively high in the area living rooms for such irrefragable debacle as such those enumerated above. Unemployment is the biggest threat to rural development; agriculture is not seen as a lucrative venture due its rigorous nature and lack of capital required to set up a well refurbished or commercialized farming scale. People no longer see agriculture as a means of employment but rather as a dirty job and as a means for their survival not for perpetual sustenance.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The findings and conclusion from above has enabled the researcher to draw out some recommendations that would ensure the sustenance of agricultural practices and measures to curbing excessive outmigration.

1. The provision of agricultural incentives to rural farmers such as; provision of fertilizers, loans and grants, sophisticated and modernized farming implements such as; tractors, irrigation rigs among others to encourage farmers and reduce the deterrence of rural dwellers from abdicating agriculture. The provision of fertilizers will help the famers in the reclamation of lost farm products.
2. Infrastructural and developmental projects in the rural areas. Infrastructural projects such as; electrification of the rural areas, building of schools, pipe-borne water system, construction of roads and building of hospitals and tenable agricultural refining or processing industries which will serve as a beacon of employment. Another important issue is the training of rural farmers on the modern system of agricultural practices such as; the need for soil testing and evaluation before planting, knowing the best suited period for planting a particular farm produce. Also sensitization on the dividends of animal husbandry. Reverting to the use of agricultural extension workers will prove to be an icing of the cake as it will help in the training, retraining and reorientation of rural farmers.
3. Government should encourage vocational training of uneducated rural youths so as to pacify for the error of migrating to urban centres to constitute nuisance or criminality and endangering their lives and that of others. Vocational training includes; welding, sewing, mechanic etc.
4. Government or corporate individuals should assist the farmers in the provision of adequate and modernized storage facilities so as to avert wastage and at the same time making sure that there is no shortage of agricultural produce notably food in the market.

image source:
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