Effect of Rural-Urban Migration on Food Security of Rural Households in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of rural-urban migration on food security of rural households in Kwande local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling technique and a semi-structured questionnaire as instrument, data for the study was collected from a sample of three hundred and eighty four (389) rural dwellers in the state. The study revealed the major causes and determined the effect of rural-urban migration of the food security of Kwande local government area and suggested measures to reduce the rate of rural-urban migration. Given that the F- statistics of 98.094 is significant at 1% level of significance, it implies that the computed F- value was higher than the F-tabulated value of (1.94) at 5% level of significance and (2.51) at 1% level of significance. Therefore, and the alternative hypothesis which states that factors such as search for job, quest for skill acquisition, search foe better education, quest for marriage, insecurity, social amenities, and natural disasters are the determining factors of rural urban migration was accepted. Therefore, the study concluded that reduction rural-urban migration and improvement in food security are dependent on these factors. Based on the effects of rural-urban migration, it was recommended that government/policy makers come up with policies that would lead to increased rural development and farm mechanization.