Investing in Rural Communities of Nigeria for Agricultural Development: A Strategy for Reducing Rural-Urban Youth Migration

Rural-urban youth migration is increasing in developing countries, particularly Nigeria. This has
resulted in loss of labour for agricultural production. Distress push factors such as lack of rural credit
facilities, unemployment and rural poverty are most important contributory factors while demand pull
factors such as perception of high wages from urban employment are also dominant. Decline in food
production in developing countries such as Nigeria can be linked to the impart of rural-urban youth
migration as well as other variable factors such as economic, soil quality, ecology, climatic conditions,
socio-cultural setting and poor farm management. Rural-urban youth migration also reduces the rate
of agricultural and rural development. Efforts are needed by Nigerian government at all levels in
encouraging rural youths to remain in agriculture through adequate provision of physical and social
infrastructure as well as creating an enabling environment devoid of insecurity. This will ensure growth
of the agricultural sector and increase rural productivity.