Effect of Youth Rural-urban Migration on Child Labour Use in Rice Production in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State Nigeria

Abstract

Effect of youth “Rural-Urban Migration” on child labour use in rice production in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was undertaken in this study. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) respondents were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique across the local government area. Data which comprised of information on the socioeconomic characteristics and the other relevant variables of interest were collected using a well structured questionnaire and personal interviews. The socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, causes of Rural and Urban migration and major rice agronomic practices on which children are used to perform. Probit model was used to determine the relationship between rural – urban migration and child labour use. The major causes of youth migration were persecutions (23.2%), boredom of farming (20.8%), social amenities (16.6%), economic reasons (16.6%) and peer pressure (12.5%). The determinant factors to child labour use in farming were age of the child, educational level, household head’s health and cost of hired labour. The results of production activities in which child labour were used included bird scaring (25%), fertilizer application (16.6%), clearing (12.5%), and planting (12.5%). The recommendations proffered were provision of essential social amenities, industries in the rural areas, the need for modernization of agriculture to reduce youth urban drift, compulsory free education for all children and as well as government enacting laws to prohibit child labour in the society.